GSU disarm KDF to launch KVF title defence in style

Kenya Volleyball Federation men’s league crème de la crème GSU dispatched their nemesis KDF 3-1 sets as the KVF playoffs served off on Friday at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.

The paramilitary side who are eyeing their third consecutive KVF success and 14th in total; blew away the soldiers by sets of 25-14,25-20,23-25 and 25-17 to launch their title defence on high at the three-day national regular league climax event.

GSU were headed to an easy straight win after comfortably dispatched the Pius Birech coached soldiers in the first two sets(25-14,25-20) before the latter collected the pieces to turn the tables in the third set winning 25-25.

The champions had to dig deep to cut short KDF’s resurgence winning the fourth set by 25-17 to collect all three points.

Both sides paraded star-studded line ups with GSU giving starts to Captain David Kirwa, hard-hitting Aboud Chirchir, Brian Melly, Nicholas Matui, Libero Noah Bett and Cornelius Lagat.

KDF on the other side fielded returning setter Elisha Aliwa, Gideon Tarus, Libero Eliud Samoei, Sila Makiso, Agrey Kimeli and Isaac Kogo.

In a post-match interview, GSU gaffer Gideon Tarus praised his charges for the win but warned them to be ruthless to avoid dropping sets against their opponents.

“We are contented with the win but I’m not happy we have given them a chance to win a set because our plan was to win this league in style. In our next two matches, we should come out in full strength to get a clean 3-0 win,” a bullish Tarus told Citizen Digital.

On his side, KDF’s assistant coach Willy Kolum rued poor blocking and defence for the loss but promised to bounce back in their second match on Saturday against Mombasa based KPA.

“The boys had tension in the first two sets and I thought we would complete our comeback after winning the third set. We should now plan to win against KPA who are also equally good but we have to get a win against them,” he underscored.

GSU will next play Kenya Prisons on Saturday before wrapping up the event organised in a round-robin format against KPA on Sunday while KDF face KPA and Kenya Prisons respectively.

Earlier at the same venue, Kenya Prisons began their women’s title defence bid in style, securing straight sets (25-19, 25-23, 25-13) victory against arch-rivals Kenya Pipeline while KCB punched their way to victory against DCI with the same margin.

The top two teams in the men and ladies category will represent the country in next year’s African Club Championship slated to take place at the Al Ahly stadium in Cairo, Egypt.

Additional reporting by Stanley Mativo