High stakes as Co-op, Prisons clash

What you need to know:

  • Chenje who is also the national men’s team coach, has said his team’s preparations for the play-offs started two months ago and access to the Safaricom Kasarani indoor courts came in handy.

Co-operative Bank of Kenya  men’s volleyball team will face a baptism of fire when they take on Kenya Prisons in the first match of the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) National league play-offs get underway at the Kenya Ports Authority Hall in Makande, Mombasa, this weekend.

KVF national assistant secretary, Ben Juma, Thursday said preparations for the play-offs are complete and that there will be four matches everyday from Friday to Sunday.

“Everything is in place for the play-offs which we expect to be very competitive judging from the level of competition during the regular season,” Juma yesterday told Daily Nation Sport on phone from Mombasa.

BEST HUNTING GROUND

Co-operative Bank have meanwhile said they are in Mombasa to win their first ever men’s league title. Prisons, on the other hand, believe Mombasa is their best hunting ground and that the trophy is already theirs even before they take to the court.

“We won the title the last time the play-offs were played at Makande in 2012. This coupled with the Kwale County government sponsored tournament that we won  at Ukunda Show grounds gives us a head start,” Prisons coach Gideon Chenje said Thursday.

Chenje who is also the national men’s team coach, has said his team’s preparations for the play-offs started two months ago and access to the Safaricom Kasarani indoor courts came in handy.

The team has been polishing its act after every match, enabling the technical bench to build in the team’s strength.

KEY PLAYERS

Setter Daniel Kiptoo, middle blocker Soul Wafula, left attacker Michael Chemos, who had a professional stint in Turkey, and international Silas Kipruto are some of the players Chenje will rely on when they take on Co-op Bank whom they have beaten in all their six meetings this season.

Experienced setter Bernard Otieno who previously turned out for APR of Rwanda, left attacker Micheal Njoroge and captain Martin Kimondo will lead the bankers’ charge.

“Each team will start on a clean slate and we don’t fear any team. This is a great opportunity for us to have a shot at the title,” coach Geoffrey Omondi said.

Co-op Bank finished fourth in the league after eight rounds of matches, but will be encouraged in this weekend’s matches to push hard after picking wins over Prisons and GS.U during the course of the season.

Friday's program

10.00am   ;Prisons Kenya  v/s Cooperative Bank  (men)
12.00noon; General Service Unit (GSU)  v/s  Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) men
1.00pm     ;Kenya Pipeline (W)  v/s Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) women
4.00pm     ;Kenya Prisons  V/s Nairobi Water  women.