NAIROBI, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has always performed dismally in the Africa men's club championships, but General Service Unit (GSU) hopes to change the course in this year's tournament, which starts in Cairo from March 30.
The paramilitary side will be one of the five clubs Kenya will be sending to Cairo for the tournament, in which the winner will secure a ticket to compete in the volleyball World Club Championships.
Alongside GSU, Kenya will also have Prisons Warders for men and three other clubs in women competition - Kenya Prisons, KCB Bank and Kenya Pipeline.
GSU head coach Gideon Tarus now says he is ready for the onslaught to end Kenya's poor run and emulate the women's side which has won over ten titles at the continental level.
"GSU is ready to break the duck and win the Africa Championship. Based on our performance, we have the capacity to challenge the North African opponents. We are working on the mistakes which hindered us in the previous editions and by mid next month it will be all systems go," said Tarus on Tuesday in Nairobi.
GSU lost 3-1 at the hands of eventual winners and hosts Al Ahly of Egypt in the finals of last year's tournament. Kenya's other representatives Kenya Prisons were edged out by El Guish of Egypt in straight sets.
The women's African Club Championship is set to start on March 16-25, while the men's edition will start on April 1-10.
"We are optimistic to see another thrilling competition at the great Al-Ahly club after the successful last year's editions," said Confederation of Africa Volleyball (CAVB) President Amr Elwani.
"Al-Ahly club won the bid to host the tournament in Cairo. They beat Esperance of Tunisia. Ahly is ready to host the Club World Championship," said Elwani.
The deadline for teams to send in their confirmation to CAVB will be March 5.
