GSU, Prisons save face with wins in continental volleyball event
National men’s volleyball team coach who is also the Kenya Prisons coach Gideon Chenje. The national men’s volleyball team maybe forced to train at an outdoor facility just days before the team launches its campaign to qualify for the All Africa Games. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Prisons coach Gideon Chenje and his GSU counterpart Gideon Taurus had both blamed their teams’ poor performances against north African teams on lack of exposure and poor preparation.
GSU and Kenya Prisons on Thursday bounced back from embarrassing defeats at the ongoing African Club Championship in Tunisia with victories against tough opposition in key ranking matches.
Prisons coach Gideon Chenje and his GSU counterpart Gideon Taurus had both blamed their teams’ poor performances against north African teams on lack of exposure and poor preparation.
But the duo will be impressed with how their charges responded after initially suffering major setbacks. In games to determine the ninth to 16th positions, Prisons beat Ittihad Tangier (Morocco) 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 21-25 and 24-26) while GSU also overcame Cote d’Ivoire side Espoire 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-26).
These results have improved both team’s chances of finishing among the top 12 in the 22-team tournament that ends this weekend.
“I am disappointed by my team’s overall performance in this event, but encouraged that the gap between ourselves and north African teams is reducing. We however need to address our technical approach and preparation for such tournaments,” Prisons coach Gideon Chenje said on phone from Tunisia.
Record winners Al Ahly (Egypt) alongside three teams from Tunisia - Etoile du Sahel, Esperance and Sfaxien - are in line to win this year’s title, havving qualified for the semi-finals.
