Ambitious GSU out to conquer Africa

Thirteen-time Kenyan Volleyball Federation (KVF) men league champions General Service Unit (GSU) head coach Gideon Tarus is hoping to replicate their meticulous home form at the continental scene when the 2019 Men Africa Club Championship serves off next month in Cairo, Egypt.

The local giants finished fifth in the 2018 edition and Tarus who has guided the team to two consecutive triumphs in the local league believes his squad is primed for success in this year’s event, which will be the 38th edition of the competition.

The annual tourney which will be preceded by the women’s event will serve off from March 30 to April 11 at the Ahly Club Hall.

“We are ready to end the hoodoo in Africa Championship based on our performance in the  league last year and how we have been training.

“We are working on the mistakes which hindered us in the previous editions and by mid  next month it will be all systems go,” Tarus bullishly charged.

The paramilitary side moved from their Ruiru base to the Kasarani Indoor Arena on Monday to intensify their training ahead of the tourney.

In last year’s event, they fell 3-1 at the hands of eventual winners and hosts Al Ahly while the 2011 silver medalists and compatriots Kenya Prisons were edged out by El Guish of Egypt in straight sets.

At the same time, Tarus is focussing on bagging an unprecedented 14th KVF title this year.

“Although our biggest target this year is to win the African title, we are leaving nothing to chance ahead of the 2019 KVF men league,” he added.

In women’s contest, where Kenya has had her dominance reverberate across Africa, six-time winners Kenya Pipeline, 2018 league champs Kenya Prisons and KCB will be looking to reclaim Kenya’s lost glory.

Prisons are the last Kenyan side to clinch the coveted title in the women category when they downed GSP Algier of Algeria in 2013.