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Former national men volleyball champions Prisons Kenya is a team on a mission.
Six years since they last lifted the national league title, the side, which is coached by David Lung’aho, know they are close to reclaiming that title. They are close and they can feel it.So, when the national play-offs serve off tomorrow to Sunday at Nyayo Stadium, there will be no looking back. They are at a point of no return.“We are ready to raise to the occasion and recapture the title and change the status quo,” said Lung’aho.
He added that the team has been conducting some intensive training sessions and they ready to fight for the title and end the five-year drought.
Prisons Kenya finished third in the 2022 national league where defending champions General Serve Unit (GSU) and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) finished joint top of the league standing with 40 points from 15 rounds of matches.
Prisons had 37 points, while newcomers Trail Blazers finished with 36 points from 15 outings.However, Lung’aho has raised concern over the choice of the venue for the play-offs.“It is unfortunate the playoffs, which is the climax of the volleyball calendar, will be played at the Nyayo Stadium, which is absolutely substandard,” said the coach, pointing out that
Karasani would have been the best venue for the play-offs.The coach said he is aware that their opponents have prepared well for the matches.“We know we will face tough opponents, but we know our strength as a team,” he added.
Lung’aho will heavily bank on Michael Chemos, Daniel Kiptoo, middle blocker Rodgers Kipkirui, Jairus Jepkosgei and Malvin Maiyo, among others.The former champions open their title chase with a match against GSU, which is expected to be a thriller.
In the last league match, GSU defeated the warders 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-16), but Prisons are ready to turn the tables. GSU’s coach Gideon Tarus will be out to confirm their status was no fluke.
At the same time, KPA arrived in Nairobi on Sunday ahead of the play-offs, where they will face Trail Blazers, who are coached by Geoffrey Omondi, on Friday.“Despite starting our training last week, we are looking forward to a good show at the playoffs,” said KPA coach Sammy Mulinge.Mulinge said the boys are focused to win the title.
