Tarus eyes podium as GSU depart for Tunisia

General Service Unit (GSU) head coach Gideon Tarus has maintained that podium finish remains their target at this year’s African Volleyball Club Championships which serve off this weekend.

The record volleyball national league champions left the country Thursday evening for the annual continental event to be held in Tunisia’s capital Tunis.

Tarus who has led GSU to win 14 local league titles said it is about time the paramilitary side replicate their dominance in the continental scene.

“We face a big challenge ahead especially from the Northern African teams but our plan is to reach semi finals and even if not this year GSU will win the Africa title. The squad is upbeat and we’re looking forward for the championship,” Tarus told Citizen Digital.

After heavyweights from Egypt pulled out from the eight-day event owing to Covid-19 pandemic, Tarus believes they can improve on their ninth-place finish at the 2019 championships held in Egypt.

Al Ahly has won the championship for three consecutive years and a record 14 times overall since its inception in 1980.

“Egypt teams have dominated this event for long due to obvious reasons of investing well in the game. Their withdrawal leaves the competition open but Tunisia is also one of the best countries with the best volleyball clubs.

GSU are currently third in the Kenya Volleyball Federation National League that served off in January on 15 points and with a game in hand.

Meanwhile, GSU’s fellow countrymen Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) landed safely in Tunisia on Wednesday ahead of the eight-day championship.

KPA under the tutelage of Sammy Mulinge are making their maiden appearance in the African scene after finishing second during the 2019 local league.