GSU, KPA clash highlights Sunday KVF action

Four legs of the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) men's league come to a conclusion on Sunday, with each team having played 12 matches.

The four top-placed teams after today's action head to the playoff to fight for the league title as General Service Unit (GSU) look to defend the title they won in 2019. 

The holders are set to play Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in one of seven matches lined up for the final day and, despite being assured of their slots in the playoffs, the match is one of the highly anticipated in the league. 

KVFL: KDF down Equity to move closer to playoff slot

GSU have gone eleven matches unbeaten, including a 3-0( 25-22, 25-19, 25-20) victory over Vihiga County on Saturday while the Dockers lost one match in a 3-2 outcome against former champions Kenya Prisons. 

Locally, the paramilitary side have an edge over the Samson Sunguti-coached KPA, having beaten them to first place in the 2019 season.

However, KPA's recent performance at the continental stage during their debut at the Africa Club Championships in Tunisia where they finished fifth, two positions ahead of GSU, has the volleyball scene buzzing with excitement ahead of the nemesis' clash.

"We have a match against Administration Police (AP) at 9 am which I will be using as part of preparations for the GSU encounter. I will be testing the team's coordination attack and defence. We have prepared well for this last leg and we have every intention of heading to the playoffs in top place. That will set precedence as we head to the playoffs. We are going for the title," said coach Sunguti. 

His GSU counterpart Gideon Tarus maintains that the result from Sunday's match plays little part in their title defence ambitions.

"We are under no pressure to win that match. Like have I said before, the fourth leg was part of my preparation for the playoffs and this is no different. If anything, I will be studying their (KPA) game so I can plan for when it matters the most, the playoffs," said Tarus. 

Meanwhile, another battle will be in the offing as Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) take on Nairobi Prisons and AP. Wins for the military side assure her of a place in the playoffs.

"We have put our win against Equity Bank behind us. That was just one of the hurdles we had to go through to get to the top four. Sunday's two matches are the most important now and we have to be mentally prepared for that. We need wins in those matches to secure our spot in the top four," said KDF assistant coach Sila Makiso after his side beat the bankers 3-0 on Saturday to inch closer to the playoffs. 

The Bankers, on their part, take on Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Rift Valley Prisons as they pray for a slip-up in KDF's matches for a chance to make a playoff debut. 

The other match of the day has Kenya Prisons, who had played eleven matches before the fourth leg to top the league table, playing Western Prisons in their last match. 

Sunday Fixtures

KPA vs AP

Nairobi Prisons vs KDF 

KFS vs Equity Bank 

KDF vs AP

GSU vs KPA

Western Prisons vs Kenya Prisons 

Rift Valley Prisons vs Equity