NAIROBI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Six countries from the east Africa region and beyond will participate in the three-day Amaco international volleyball tournament in Kenya from April 23-25 in Eldoret in western Kenya, organizers announced on Monday.
Paul Tarus, chairman of Paul Bitok Foundation, planners of the event, said two teams from the United States have confirmed participation at the 13th edition of the competition.
"That the tournament has attracted a men's team and women's team from the US is testimony of the event's growing stature. We hope to build from there and make the event much bigger in future," Tarus said during the launch of the event in Nairobi.
Other countries that will field teams at the competition that will feature about 67 sides are Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
The tournament is the brainchild of Paul Bitok, former national team captain who also coached the national women's side and is currently coaching the Rwandan national team.
Bitok is also the first Kenyan to have played professional volleyball when he signed up for Tunisian side Etiole Sportiff and later Zagreb Club of Croatia.
He founded the event to tap talent at his home village of Simat and beyond and several players who are currently playing for the national team honed their skills at the competition.
Elizabeth Koskei, CEO of Amaco Company, sponsors of the contest, said the firm has rolled out sponsorship package of 9.6 million shillings (96,000 U.S. dollars) towards the tourney.
