The annual Paul Bitok National Volleyball tournament will this year be held in Nairobi after being switched from its traditional venue Bungoma County, it was announced yesterday.
Speaking during the launch of the tournament’s first edition in Nairobi, Bitok said: “As we are aware, clubs will be participating in the African men’s and women’s Clubs Championship in Tunisia in May and therefore the teams requested the event be moved to the indoor facility from the outdoor. The development is to have players adjust to the indoor facility and maintain the momentum.”
The event had originally been set for April 7-9 at the Kiminini Primary School grounds in Bungoma County, but due to the unpredictable rainy weather patterns currently being experienced in the Western Part of the country and the request from the National League clubs to have the event staged in the indoor facility, pushed event founder Paul Bitok in conjunction with the Kenya Volleyball Federation to have a change of mind.
Bitok who is also the national women’s team coach added that the draws for the event will be held next Wednesday at 2pm at KCB Sports Club.
“We expect 16 men’s and eight women’s clubs that participate in the league to compete in the event. The deadline for registration is this Friday at 4pm. We want the tournament to run professionally and that’s why we will not entertain late registrations,” added Bitok who is the KCB Women’s Team Technical Director.
The tournament will now be staged at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani indoor arena and Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium in Nairobi respectively starting next weekend.
This edition will not have special categories that includes schools and universities with the win-ners in both gender pocketing Sh 100,000, while the runners-up will take home Sh 50,000.
