The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) crowned the men’s winners of the 2019 Amaco International volleyball tournament

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) were crowned the men’s winners of the 2019 Amaco International volleyball tournament.

The KDF after edging Kenya Prisons 3-2 (23-25, 25-17, 21-25, 25-23, 15-9) in a nail-biting final on Sunday.

After bagging the 2019 Amaco Tournament, Kenya Defence Forces who have made winning the elusive Kenyan Volleyball Federation (KVF) league title their top target. The Soldiers beat Kenya Prisons 3-2 in a hotly-contested final held on Sunday at the Eldoret Polytechnic to bag the title and Sh200, 000 prize money.

Ulinzi, as they are fondly referred, will however have to overcome 13-time champions and title holders General Service Unit (GSU) who have dominated the league as well as the David Lungáho coached Kenya Prisons who cannot be written off either.

After bagging the 2019 Amaco Tournament, Kenya Defence Forces who have made winning the elusive Kenyan Volleyball Federation (KVF) league title their top target. The Soldiers beat Kenya Prisons 3-2 in a hotly-contested final held on Sunday at the Eldoret Polytechnic to bag the title and Sh200, 000 prize money.

Head coach Pius Birech is also adamant that if they remain focused and keep the fire burning then getting the title is a possibility for the military side.

The winners in the senior category (Men and women) went home with Kes.200, 000 as the first runners up pocketed Kes.150, 000 as the second runners up bagged Kes.75, 000.

This year’s tournament witnessed a huge turnout of 93 teams including two teams from USA Baylor and Salt Factory. American Volleyball teams, Salt factory sports and Baylor Volleyball vigorously participated the 13th edition of the Amaco International Volleyball Tournament held on 25th -26th May, 2019 at the Eldoret Polytechnic Stadium.

A total of seven foreign teams took part in the two day event five from neighboring Uganda including Sport S and KCCA all women clubs and their male counterparts together with Sky volleyball club.

A match that stood out, Baylor Volleyball versus D.C.I Kenya, watched by a thousand fans, American based Baylor Volleyball dominated and won three sets consecutively. The match won hearts of the locals, surprisingly the locals were amused of the Baylor Volleyball heights and vigor, the passion and sportsmanship amongst them earned supporters which saw winning against Kosirai Girls and DCI Kenya.

However, due to challenges in travel logistics, the two US-based did not play their quarter-final matches.

Esther Mutinda of Kenya Pipeline was crowed Best Women Server, while her team mate Lucy Meta emerged as the Best Setter. Pamela Masaisi bagged the Most Valuable Player title while in the men’s category, Dicken Otim from Uganda was crowned the Best Blocker with Daniel Kiptoo of Kenya Prions emerging as the Best Setter and Solomon Bitok the Best Server. Maxwell Kiprono bagged the Most Valuable Player and Evans Makuto of Kenya Prisons was the Best Attacker.

Strathmore University won the Men’s Colleges and Schools category dominating all the sets against a fast rising Kapkenyelio High School from Nandi County.

Cheptil Girls Secondary School from Nandi County beat Kwanthanze (Machakos) 3-1 (16-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-21) to win the schools’ title, while Huruma Women emerged winners in the self-supporting teams’ category with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-8, 25-22) win over Uasin Gishu Stars, with the teams taking home Sh75,000 and Sh35,000, respectively.