Big leap for volleyball as Kenya Cup launched with Olympic in mind
By Lucky Oluoch, January 20, 2025
Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) has officially launched the inaugural Kenya Cup, a new tournament that promises to revolutionise the sport and play a pivotal role in the country’s Olympic aspirations.
Announced by KVF president Charles Nyaberi at a draw held at KCB Sports Club, the innovative competition will feature both men’s and women’s teams and aims to nurture talent, enhance the level of competition and provide the national teams with the best possible preparation for international competitions, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Set to begin in February, the five-month competition will feature 17 teams (both men’s and women’s) competing for top honours at Kenya’s premier venues: Kasarani Indoor Arena and Nyayo National Stadium.
Speaking during the event, Nyaberi expressed his excitement about the Kenya Cup, which he described as “very, very innovative”.
He highlighted the tournament’s key role in identifying and selecting players for the national teams, namely Wafaa Mestaz for the men and the Malkia Strikers for the women.
In an unprecedented move, the Kenya Cup will allow teams to enlist professional players who would not normally be eligible to participate in the league, opening up new possibilities for teams and giving the competition a fresh dynamic. Nyaberi explained that this rule change would provide fans with a “totally different ball game” and an exciting new look for the tournament.
“This tournament is going to give us a chance to see a new breed of teams and a new competition,” he added, stressing that the Kenya Cup is designed to differ from the traditional league formats that have previously dominated the Kenyan volleyball scene.
With an eye on keeping teams active during the off-season, the federation is confident that the Kenya Cup will help keep players engaged year-round.
The tournament will feature 10 men’s teams and seven women’s teams, with the competition kicking off in February.
In the men’s category, teams such as GSU, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Kenya Army, Equity Bank and APK will compete in pool A, while Prisons Kenya, KDF, Trailblazers, CHEMA and KAPU face off in pool B.
On the women’s side, defending champions KCB will compete in pool B alongside Kenya Pipeline, Kenya Army and Kenya Defence Forces, while former champions Prisons Kenya battle DCI and Postbank in pool A.