Volleyball: African Club Championship-Arsu aiming for better fortune |31 March 2005

Arsu, who finished in 9th place out of 10 participating teams at their last participation in the competition in Egypt in 1997, leave the country on Thursday.

Under the leadership of coach James Camille, Arsu aren't going to Kenya just to make up the numbers, but are looking forward to harvest their first championship medal.

Contacted by telephone on Wednesday afternoon coach Camille had this to say:
"We will do our best to come home with a descent result. The players are motivated and hardworking. We are better prepared than last time and we are determined to try and wrestle the title from the grasps of big favourites."

Coach Camille, who guided Asru to winning the League and Curtain-raiser titles last year, added that he expects some tough challenges in Kenya.

"Like usual I expect the competition to be very tough and of a high level. The level of the game is quite high on the African continent and judging from past experience nothing will be easy for us. Due to financial constraints we haven't been able to bring a complete team to Kenya but those who are going are willing to give it their best shot," said Camille.

Arsu, who booked their tickets for the African showpiece after grabbing a silver medal at last year's Indian Ocean Islands Clubs Championship (IOCC) which Seychelles hosted, will have to play a high level of volleyball if they are to trouble their opponents and make an impact on the tournament.

Team captain Marie-Ange Bouchereau told Sports Nation that her team have gathered much experience over the years and are aiming for a place on the medals podium.

"We want to leave our mark on the competition. The players are mature and experienced so I expect my team to give a very good display in Kenya," said Bouchereau.

The nine players making the trip are Jerina Bonne, Marie-Ange Bouchereau, Bessy Volcy, Rita Ladouce, Emily Joubert, Audrey Pillay, Rose-Marie Antoine, Mozianne Ankono and Nathalie Domingue and they will be accompanied by coach Camille who will be assisted by Julien Onezime.

Record entry

A record thirteen foreign teams including Arsu as well as three Kenyan sides have confirmed their participation in the 20th edition of the championship.

Title favourites and defending champions Kenya Pipeline will lead Kenya’s triple assault along with former champions Telkom and Kenya Commercial Bank.

Apart from defending champions Kenya Pipeline, Telkom and Kenya Commercial Bank, two other title favourites, El Ahly and Elshams from Egypt have confirmed their participation in the championship.

Other teams coming for the competition, expected to be a battle between Kenyan teams and their Egyptian rivals, are Tanzania Prisons (Tanzania), National University of Rwanda (Rwanda), VC DCMP/K (Congo Kinshasa), ASEC MIMOSA (Ivory Coast), INJS and AES SONEL (Cameroon), GS chlef and NC Bejaia (Algeria), Inter Club (Congo Brazzaville) and Kampala City Council VB (Uganda).

C. J.