Volleyball: GSU coach expects tough battle to retain crown

Wesley Rono will lead GSU's onslaught as they strive to go top in the Kenya Volleyball Federation league matches in Bungoma.

"It is hard to beat the opposition and become number one, but it is even harder to retain the top position in any sport challenge."

Those words will ring in the ears of General Service Unit (GSU) coach Gideon Tarus when the paramilitary side will be fighting to retain the national volleyball league title.

Apart from facing former champions Kenya Prisons, who are yet to lose a league match this season, Tarus will also be wary of the threat posed by Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and Coop Bank.

Prisons have beaten the league champions four times this season both in league competition and tournaments while Coop Bank claimed the scalp of the service men in the Amaco tournament in Eldoret as KDF shot them down in Eldoret and Kericho.

While Tarus admits there is a huge task ahead of him in trying to ensure the league trophy remains at Ruaraka, he believes his team was up to the task and they have also been boosted by the return of long-serving setter Stephen Mathenge.

"All the three teams have been playing very well throughout the season and it will be very tough for us to retain the title, but I am happy with the training so far and by November 28 we will be ready to start the defence of our title," Tarus told Feverpitch.

The coach said the mood at the team camp has been livened up by the return of Mathenge, who was not available for the league legs, but was ready to boost his team to glory at the play-offs in Mombasa which serve off on November 28-30.

Tarus said Mathenge's experience will be useful to his team as it will take a lot of experience to disperse the likes of Prisons and KDF from getting closer to their title.

Mathenge will, however, also be relying on the supporting cast of other experienced hands as attackers David Kirwa and Bernard Musumba will be on hand to ward off the attack from Prisons and KDF.

"I know the three teams will be keen to snatch our title, but we are also prepared to guard the trophy jealously and ensure we come back with it from Mombasa," said Tarus, who took over from coach Moses Epoloto.

When asked if the conditions in Mombasa might be a factor for his team as they strive to retain the title, Tarus said if that was the case then it will affect all the teams.

"I have no problem with playing in Mombasa as all the other teams are from Nairobi and nobody will get undue advantage," Tarus said.

In the women finals, champs Kenya Pipeline will put their title on the line as they come up against Kenya Prisons. The two arch-rivals will have no love lost as they face off, but they too need to be worry of the challenge from underdogs KCB and Nairobi Water.