Kenya Pipeline head coach Paul Gitau expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance after an impressive 3-1 victory over DCI in the opening match of the Kenya Volleyball Federation’s playoffs on Monday at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.
The defending champions secured the first two sets 25-16, 25-22, while DCI fought back to claim the third set 27-25. KPC regained control in the fourth set, winning it 25-17.
Gitau said: “I am very happy since this is our first game and the first game usually says a lot about a tournament. If you lose the first game, you enter the second even more confused. It was a tough game but I am happy we have won and I believe it will set the pace for tomorrow’s game.”
The six-time African champions will face a formidable Kenya Prisons team on Tuesday in their second match of the tourney. The tactician praised his players as he highlighted the depth of talent available to him.
“I am bringing in players with the same calibre and I have prepared a bulk of players who can come in and assist. That’s the kind of players I have, players who are ready to perform,” said Gitau.
On the other hand, DCI head coach Daniel Bor acknowledged the pressure exerted by Kenya Pipeline, pin-pointing servicing as their Achilles’ heel.
“We gave in to pressure from KPC. We tried to resist the pressure but along the way, we somehow lost that fighting spirit. We need to work on our scoring skills. Defence also cost us and our major undoing were the services. We gave pipeline very simple services,” said Bor.
The sleuths will face last season’s runners-up up KCB in their second match on Tuesday.
Bor added: “We came into the competition having planned for a win but unfortunately, we lost. I believe my team did well overall because losing 3-1 to a big team like Pipeline is more of an achievement.”
“Tomorrow, we have another big match against KCB and I hope we are going to send a message that we are a team to watch,” he concluded.
Elsewhere, KCB beat Kenya Prisons 3-2 in sets of 25-18, 22-25, 25-10, 26-24 and 15-12.
