Prisons in must win match against Burundi's Rukinzo

Kenya Prisons men's team in action in Cairo. [Courtesy]

Former national men’s volleyball league champions Kenya Prisons will step onto the court in Cairo, Egypt, at 2pm for their final Group C match of the on-going African Club championship against Burundi’s Rukinzo.

They are well aware that nothing short of victory will guarantee them a place in the quarter-finals.

Unlike local champions and rivals General Service Unit, who have dropped to the classification matches after registering mixed results in the tournament, the warders overcame Espoir of Congo DR 3-1 (25-16, 25-19, 20-25, 25-17) yesterday to put themselves in pole position to advance to the last eight.

Yesterday’s win, their third in the tournament, took Prisons points tally to eight ahead of today’s must win tie.

And having reached the 2011 finals before finishing third in 2013, head coach David Lung’aho knows exactly what Prisons must do to sail through.

“Nobody had given us a chance when we came here but the boys played their hearts out, more so, against an experienced Espoir side,” Lung’aho told Standard Sports on phone.

“Although we must win tomorrow (today), the quarterfinals is ours for the taking. Rukinzo might not have won any match in the competition but that doesn’t mean it is a weak team. This competition is unpredictable and every team is a challenge, so we must be at our best.”

But the celebrated tactician admits to feeling pressure ahead of the crunch tie.

“Of course, the pressure is on me as a coach because I want to win against Rukinzo but we can’t look down against them. Though it’s not a do-or-die match, we must win it. But our strategy of taking one game at a time still remains,’’ said Lung’aho.

While Prisons will be clashing with the Burundians, GSU will be battling VC Mwangaza of Congo DR in their final Group D match at 5pm.

The paramilitary side registered their second victory of the tournament yesterday after thrashing Zimbabwe’s University by straight sets (25-11, 25-14 and 25-18).

Uganda’s Nemo Stars, who inflicted the second defeat on GSU (3-2) on Tuesday, have qualified for the quarter-finals alongside Libya’s Asaria.