GSU, Kenya Pipeline keen to retain national titles

GSU's Gabriel Ndomboi during National Men's Volleyball playoffs match against Prisons Kenya at Nyayo indoor arena. July 29, 2022. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The wheat has already been separated from the chaff as Kenya's top cream volleyball teams get ready for the National Playoffs set for next week at Kasarani Gymnasium, Nairobi.

The playoffs promise intense and thrilling matches as teams battle for the top honours and tickets to next year's Africa Club Championships.

The three-day series of expected exhilarating matches will see teams showcase their supremacy.

The top four spots have already been booked where Africa women club silver medallists Kenya Pipeline will be out to defend the title. Pipeline lost 3-1 to Egyptian side Zamalek in the 2023 Women Club Championship in Tunisia.

However, Pipeline under the tutelage of Paul Gitau should not expect a smooth sailing as KCB, former champions Kenya Prisons and Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) are salivating for the title they once kept in their shelves apart from the latter.

Pipeline will be out to show why they are the national queens and ready to retain the domestic title for the second year running. Pipeline beat KCB 3-1 (18-25, 25-22, 25-19, 26-24) in a title decider in January this year. The bankers under coach Japheth Munala have been training hard to recapture the title.

Kenya Prisons and DCI have shown great improvement and any team underrating them should do so at their own peril.

In the men's category, title holders General Service Unit (GSU) aims to retain the title again. But it will not be a walk in the park for Gideon Tarus' side as they face stiff opposition from Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Kenya Prisons and Kenya Defence Force (KDF).

KPA, who represented the country in this year's Men Club Championship in Tunisia, Prisons and KDF have been sharpening their arsenals to wrestle the title from the paramilitary side. The dockers narrowly failed to win the title after they lost 3-1 in last year's deciding match.