Chemos boost for play-offs: Prisons welcome star attacker as they plot dominating volley finals

National volleyball team player Mike Chemos during their team training at Kasarani.Photo/DENNIS OKEYO

Former Kenya Volleyball Federation league men champions Kenya Prisons will not only go into the play-offs with an unbeaten record, but they will also have national team attacker Mike Chemos to try and help them regain the title.

The left attacker will be available after spending one season in Turkey where he honed his volleyball skills which coach David Chenje hopes will be useful to the wardens as they try to disperse General Service Unit from Kenya's volleyball pedestal.

"I am happy that Chemos has been training with us ahead of the play-offs in Mombasa and what I have seen so far in training has given me a lot of hope before we start the chase for the title we lost to GSU last year," Chenje told Feverpitch from the team's training base at the Kasarani gymnasium.

Chenje said Chemos has been able to pass a lot of skills to his teammates, which will come handy when the play-offs start in Mombasa on November 28.

The Prisons coach was, however, quick to point out that nobody in the team was assured of starting place just yet and they should work extremely hard in training before the trip to Mombasa. He warned players not to think about their unbeaten run.

"Despite being happy because Prisons have Chemos back in the team, I want to remind my players that I have not decided on the first team yet and anybody could still find himself on the bench when we face Coop Bank in the opener," Chenje said.

On his part, Chemos said he was in good form and will be keen to help Prisons wrestle back the title they lost to GSU last year.

"I am looking forward to playing again in the league play-offs and having learned a lot in Turkey. I hope my skills will be useful when we face GSU, Coop Bank and KDF at the play-offs," Chemos said.

Chemos, however, will have to prove his point to earn a place in the team as he faces competition on the left attack side from another professional Dennis Mokua, who was based in Japan.

Apart from Mokua another national team player Jackson Mwambia will also be hoping to be in the first six that will be playing the opener against Coop Bank.

Prisons will, however, still miss the services of towering centre attacker Simon Kimeli, who is still out with a foot injury after getting injured last year in the final leg of the league.

In Kimeli's absence Hudson Wainaina, Stephen Muremi and Saul Wafula have been putting a lot of effort in training in the hope of impressing the coach and be named in the starting six. The good news for Chenje also is the return of his captain Ibrahim Oduor who played in the eighth round in Homa Bay.