Tarus credits KVF title to consistency and hard work

Coach Gideon Tarus, just like any other championship winning tactician, has maintained the confidence that his charges would defend the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) men's league title throughout the season. 

Even when the volleyball fraternity woke up to the shock of the paramilitary side having gone down 3-0 to rivals Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in the regular league, the tactician accepted defeat but maintained that the title was his to lose. 

Volleyball: Industrious GSU bag fifth-consecutive title

On Sunday 31 July at the Nyayo Indoor Arena, Tarus led his charges to a 3-1 (27-25, 20-25, 27-25, 25-23) victory over the Mombasa-based KPA in the title-deciding match for a fifth-consecutive title. 

"I have to give it to my players, they take preparations for the playoffs as personal initiatives and go out of their way to be fit both mentally and physically for the matches. 

That came into play in this season's championship as I had a fit squad at my disposal and they were able to withstand KPA's onslaught and fight on for what they wanted," said coach Tarus in a post-match interview. 

The paramilitary side won 3-1 against Prisons Kenya in their opening match of the playoffs before seeing off newbies Trailblazers 3-0 to set up the long awaited clash against the dockers, the only side that had subjected GSU to a defeat in the regular season. 

"My players' consistency both on and off the pitch has seen us defend the title, win a fifth-consecutive and fifteenth gong overall, which is no mean feat," offered Tarus. 

Commenting on the nerve-racking final match against KPA, the tactician lauded the experienced Bonfentry Wekesa who was introduced in the later stages of the firat set and was maintained for the entirety of the match for maintaining level headedness on the court at all times. 

"We struggled in the first set and I had to make a tactical adjustment, introducing Wekesa whose experience and calmness is unmatched. Such a high-pressure match needed his expertise and he delivered expertly," Tarus explained. 

The tactician is not resting on his laurels, despite the glowing achievements and is already plotting for the next season with a few changes expected in the team as he expects his foreign-based teams to make a return to their respective clubs. 

"We have to make amends, bolster the squad by continuing to introduce younger players and build the team around them ahead of the new season. We have a target on our backs. Every team will come hard at us, as usual, following our long-standing champion tag and we have to be ready," the title-winning tactician added. 

The side has also booked a ticket to the continental club championship alongside second place finishers KPA and Trailblazers who finished ahead of former champions Prisons Kenya in the four-team playoffs.