Tunisia clubs are in a different level, says ‘Demosh’
Kenya Prisons Women’s Volleyball team coach David Lungáho is worried about the gap between Kenyan clubs and those from North Africa after the latter teams dominated the women’s African Club Championship for the eighth year in a row.
Carthage and Sfaxien won their semi-finals matches against Kenya Prisons and Nigeria Customs Services respectively on Wednesday night to set an all Tunisian finals affair even as Kenyan teams dropped to fight for the classification matches.
Lungáho who is a former Malkia Strikers Coach singled out sports academies as the vital tool Kenya’s opponents are using to widen the gap.
“Our opponents are doing a lot of investments and the fact that they keep on bringing well established players from Europe that also is a massive boost for them.
But for Kenya if we’re to go to the next level we’ve to think otherwise and we’ve to build more academies because that’s the area our opponents are beating us,” he said after Prisons were eliminated from the title race by Carthage in straight sets.
Ever since Prisons’ four-year dominance was ended by Algier of Algeria in 2014, North African teams have not relinquished the title with record-champions Al Ahly SC bagging four times and Friday’s finalist Carthage once.
Kenya will have to wait for one more year to launch another attempt at ending the jinx at the men’s version after representatives GSU and KPA also crumbled against their North African opponents.
KPA, who were making their maiden appearance at the championship, finished fifth while GSU placed seventh.
Hosts Esparence defeated Zamalek of Egypt 3-0 sets to lift their fifth African title.
Prisons will Friday fight for the bronze medal against Nigeria’s Customs of Services while their counterparts Kenya Pipeline will battle for a fifth position finish against Kelibia of Tunisia on Thursday.
Lungáho however believes Kenyan teams gave a good account of themselves despite sending second string teams as their top stars are with the national women’s volleyball team currently training under a bio-secure bubble at Kasarani for the Olympic Games.
