NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 2 – Kenya Pipeline head coach Paul Gitau says his eyes are focused on the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) league title regardless of the relative youth and inexperience of his team.
Gitau points out that the oilers are due the national crown for all the efforts they have immersed in training and their overall performances over the years.
“My first target is to win the playoffs so that we can be confirmed as champions. That would be a morale booster to the young players and the team in general. This team deserves to end this season with a title,” the experienced tactician said.
Kenya Pipeline head into next week’s playoffs – on January 14-15 at Nyayo Stadium – having led the women’s log and will be buoyed by this as they come up against the likes of league defending champions Kenya Prisons and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB).
Gitau noted that it has not been a walk in the park for the oilers especially with the departure of key players and the ingraining of younger ones into the team.
The oilers have lost experienced players, such as Veronicah Adhiambo, Violet Makuto, Noel Lurambi and Esther Mutinda and will be crossing their fingers that the dent left by their departure is not too big to be filled by the younger replacements.
“The last two years have been really a struggle. We have won a few games here and there…remember my team is not as experienced as some people may think. If they win the title, then that would be the beginning of great things,” the former Posta player said.
Pipeline, who won the Africa Club Championships in 2006, will be further encouraged by their third-place finish at the continental showpiece in June last year in Kelibia, Tunisia.
The ladies also clinched the annual Eldoret City Open Volleyball tournament and reached the finals of the Heroes Community tournament in Mosoriot, Nandi.
Gitau, who took the reins at Pipeline in 2020, boasts a decorated CV, having also led the national team to two All Africa Games titles in 1999 and 2015.
