Volleyball MVP Chirchir off to France

General Service Unit (GSU) attacker and Kenya Volleyball Federation's (KVF) 2018 and 2019 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Abiud Chirchir has finally left the country for France where he will turn up for Grand Nancy Volley-ball (GNVB). 

Abiud has been with GSU for the last two legs of the men’s KVF league played in Kakamega and Nairobi and was expected to feature for the side during the playoff set for Mombasa on August 27 to 29. However, with the uncertainty surrounding the Kenyan playoffs and his new team set to begin pre-season training, the attacker has opted to join

 “There is a lot of uncertainty on whether the playoffs are on or the national teams will be given a chance to prepare for the Africa Nations Cup due next month. With no communication on the same, we could not hold his (Abiud) travel any longer. That said my team is ready for the playoffs. We have played without him before and that will not stop us from our title defence,” said GSU coach Gideon Tarus.

The Malava Boys' alumnus rejoined GSU after the Africa Club Championships in April where he featured for Tunisia's Olympique de Kelibia. He had stayed in the Tunisian side for two seasons, having joined in January last year and was integral in the side's fourth-place finish in the championship played in Tunis. 

“GNVB will entrust the tip of its attack to the Kenyan Chirchir, a total unknown on the European continent. Once again, with limited financial means, we were forced to make bets and he is one of them, like the passer Robert Viiber and the Spaniard Victor Rodriguez Perez. For this new championship, we want to build a sports project that will be based on a dynamic collective. We thus favour team spirit over individualities,” Michel Hentzen, the club’s sports manager told French media in May. 

The Kenyan joins the team at a time when it is undergoing major changes with the exit of manager Hentzen two days ago. I am no longer the manager of the club," he said in his press release.“I took the initiative of this decision because the conditions are no longer met, in my volunteer situation, although the desire is still present. I deeply regret it and wish the club every success."

Coach Tarus says Chirchir’s position is well covered as they had signed the Kelvin Omuse from Equity Bank. Omuse was impressive as he made his continental debut with the side during the Tunis championship and is expected to fit into Chirchir’s shoes one more time during the playoffs.