Simlaw, Bunge outline league strategy after Div I promotion

The two teams, who locked horns in a thrilling Division Two final at the Nyayo National Stadium on Wedsday are acutely aware of the massive step up in quality that awaits them.

For the newly crowned champions Simlaw, securing top-flight status is just the beginning of a longer journey. Speaking  after clinching the Division 2 title on their roadmap for the upcoming Division One campaign, Simlaw Head Coach Collins Odongo emphasised that surviving the elite league will require a significant overhaul of the current squad.

Odongo noted that while he is immensely proud of the players who secured promotion, the top tier is an entirely different beast that demands immediate squad depth and reinforcement.

“First thing , we have to at least sit down with the management and make sure that we do some serious recruitment,” Odongo stated. “It is tough over there. It is really tough, and we have to strategize properly.”

Beyond bringing in new faces, the tactician underscored the need for administrative and financial backing to ensure the team can compete sustainably.

“We have to do a lot in matters of investments. Going to the league, I'm not going to prove a point, but I will play each game as it comes,” he added.

On the other side of the net, Bunge Volleyball Head Coach Gideon Chenje is looking at structural and logistical adjustments as the key to their Division One survival. 

Reflecting on the challenges his squad faces, Chenje pointed out that unlike established institutional powerhouses in the top tier, his players face severe constraints regarding training time due to their day-to-day professional responsibilities.

“Remember, our training has only been two days a week ,Tuesdays and Thursdays, and we have been doing just a few hours. Many of these players are employees of Bunge, so they are at work most of the time,” Chenje explained.

To bridge the competitive gap against elite teams who train continuously, Chenje plans to approach the team's corporate hierarchy to negotiate for more dedicated preparation time.

“Now that we have qualified to go there, we will try to talk to the management so they can grant us more time. We need extended training periods just like the other teams like KPA who train the whole day. Once we get that, we will be ready to face the challenge,” Chenje concluded.

Meanwhile, following an exciting quarter final playoffs of the top flight KVF National League in Mombasa, Kenya’s top men and women teams are back on it again for the semifinal clashes from Friday to Sunday at Kasarani Indoor Arena. 

Thrilling rivalries and world class volleyball are expected as teams will be battling for a place in the 2025-2026  National League Finals.