General Service Unit (GSU) men's coach Danson Tali is optimistic about his team's chances as the Kenya Volleyball Federation playoff semifinals loom.
GSU face Kenya Defence Forces at Kasarani Indoor Arena this weekend as Tali expects to continue with their undefeated campaign.
“Our preparations focus on rectifying our mistakes. We have had ample preparations and are ready for a win,” Tali stated.
GSU beat Equity Bank 2-0 in the best-of-three quarterfinals — 3-1 (25-22, 26-28, 18-25, 19-25) and 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-22, 25-19).
Tali promised changes in their game plan but remained guarded on the execution.
“Our game plan has been to play as per our opponents' approach. We cannot disclose our full game plan going forward for obvious reasons,” said Tali.
"However, we plan to counter our opponents' strengths although there is nothing new since we have met severally. We only need to polish our tactics to ensure we leave nothing to chance."
International Hudson Kipchumba has been GSU's standout player this season and is expected to continue his exploits this weekend.
“If there is a player who has shown improvement throughout the season, it is Hudson Kipchumba,” said Tali, crediting their tactical flexibility as another key strength
“The approach depends on where we play (indoor versus outdoor) and against who. Managing rotation and ensuring everyone plays at their peak performance makes us tick.”
“With outdoor, the weather dictates how we play while indoor is a matter of not only the ambience and lighting but the type of court too.”
Tali said keeping the team motivated, physically and mentally, is key.
“Most of them (players) know what to do. They have been there for years. It’s just a matter of delivering their best,” said Tali.
“In training, I assess fatigue and give them a rest once through. Enough rest is vital for performance on the court.”
Handling rigorous training within shared facilities also requires careful planning.
“The facility we have usually allows us just two training hours per day since it is shared," he observed while outlining his expectations.
Kenya Ports Authority tackle champions Kenya Prisons.
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