After a 13-year wait, Kenya will finally have a team in the semi-finals of the African Men’s Volleyball Club Championship.

This is after Kenya Prisons, who return to the annual event after six years, came from a set down to beat local rivals Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 3-1 (09-25,25-22,28-26,25 -16) to qualify for the semi-finals scheduled for Monday at the Al Ahly Sporting Hall in Cairo.

It is Kenya Prisons who qualified for the semi-finals of the 2011 edition in Tunisia and won the silver medal.

Kenya Prisons, champions of the Kenya Volleyball Federation National League, were supreme against the Dockers who defeated them 3-1 in last season’s play-offs at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani’s indoor arena.

Ahead of the quarter-finals, Prisons made a relatively shaky start to the event, winning two matches and losing the same number of matches in Pool “C” before taking on Faith Sports Club of Morocco in the round of 16 on Saturday.

Prisons dismissed FUS 3-0 (28-26,25-23,25-23) to book KPA in the last eight.

KPA, on the other hand, had an excellent start to the 10-day event, winning all their pool “D” matches undefeated before beating Injs from Ivory Coast 3-0 (25-16,25-20,25-14 ) in the round of 16.

The result means KPA’s long wait to qualify for the semi-finals continues after finishing sixth in the previous edition. KPA made a fourth attempt to qualify for the semi-finals.

Prisons will compete in the semi-final against the winner between Mouloudia Sportive De Bou Salem from Tunisia and Volleyball Bilda from Algeria.

Kenya Prisons Team Manager Patrick Moi commended the boys for their spirited battle to qualify for the semi-finals.

“We had a bad start to this event from the group stage, but I am happy that the players picked up the pieces and composed themselves to reach this stage. That showed perseverance, determination and patience. We would like to thank the government for We hope that their efforts and those of the players will not be in vain. I am happy for the players and the technical bench in general,” Moi said on the phone from Egypt on Sunday.

In the quarter-finals previously played at the same venue, Rikinzo Volleyball Club from Burundi defeated Volleyball Club Garde Republicaine from Democratic Republic of Congo 3-1 (25-19,25-19,29-25,25-18) to book a place in the semi-finals.

Defending champions Mouloudia Sportive De Bou Salem of Tunisia, home of Kenyan international Simon Kipkorir, were due to play ASV Volleyball Bilda of Algeria in the third quarter-finals, while hosts Al Ahly lined up to take on Police Volleyball Club of Rwanda. last eight game last night.

In the classification matches, Equity Bank from Kenya defeated the University of Zimbabwe from Zimbabwe 3-1(25-18,25-16,23-25,25-16).

After the men’s event on April 23, the women’s competition will take place from April 25 to May 5 at the same location.