Former champions KCB are bracing for a defining match against Young Spikers today in the second leg of the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) League at the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Indoor Arena.
Sitting sixth on the table with four points from one win and two losses, the bankers are under pressure to secure maximum points and reignite their push up the standings.
Despite the mixed start to the campaign, head coach Japheth Munala remains confident his side can turn the tide. “We know the task ahead is daunting, but we are determined as a team to head into the upcoming fixtures with the right mentality. Our objective is to win each game at a time and build towards winning the title at the end of the season,” said Munala.
KCB will barely have time to recover after the Young Spikers clash as attention quickly shifts to a high-stakes encounter against DCI on Sunday.
The fixture adds another chapter to a growing rivalry between the two sides, who have already faced off twice this season. The bankers suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to DCI in the semi-finals of the Kipchumba Karori tournament but responded emphatically in the Kenya Cup, rallying from two sets down to snatch a 3-2 victory.
“DCI are a formidable side, and their recent performances speak for themselves. Finishing second in last season’s league shows their consistency and quality, and they’ve already demonstrated their strength again this season,” said Munala. He added, “However, we’ve prepared thoroughly for this encounter, and we are determined to prove that our last victory over them was well deserved and no coincidence,” he added.
Encouragingly for KCB, the squad heads into the double-header fully fit, giving Munala a selection headache of the positive kind. He is expected to lean on experienced campaigners Mercy Moim, Juliana Namutira, Esther Mutinda and Belinda Barasa to steady the ship in crucial moments.
At the same time, youthful talents Fridah Boke and Marlene Terry are poised to inject fresh energy as the bankers seek to reassert themselves as serious title contenders.
