Delhi Toofans finalise 14-member squad for Prime Volleyball League Season 5

New Delhi, Oct 26 (IANS/WISHAVWARTA) Delhi Toofans have finalised their 14-member squad and support staff for the fifth season of the Prime Volleyball League (PVL), which is scheduled to begin on November 30, with head coach Fabio Menta set to lead the franchise’s preparations.

The squad comprises 11 Indian players and three international recruits from Serbia, Australia and Canada. The franchise, owned by Resolute Sports, will look to build on its runners-up finish in its debut season in 2024 as it prepares for the upcoming campaign.

George Antony, Deepak Kumar M, Amadou Laye Samb and Sheik Numan have been named as outside hitters, while Abhishek Rajeev and Yoan David will feature as opposites. Pravin P, Muhammed Jasim and James Weir will take up the middle-blocker roles, with Lal Sujan M V and Muhammed Shamil O K named as setters.

Anand and Aljo Sabu will serve as liberos, while Arsak Sinan completes the playing squad as a blocker.

Menta, whose appointment was announced in September, will be assisted by V V Jayakumar. The support staff also includes technical director Shailen Ramdoo, analyst Jitendra Kumar, physiotherapist Joshua Bruce, strength and conditioning coach Amal Manohar, manager Karan Pathak and operations executive Abhijit Vishwakarma.

Menta brings more than two decades of experience across professional clubs, national teams and international development programmes in Europe, Asia and Oceania.

“The team has already demonstrated its potential by reaching the Prime Volleyball League final in their debut season, giving us a strong foundation to build upon. With the squad now in place, our priority is to bring the players together around a clear playing philosophy and a shared ambition,” Menta said.

He added that the combination of Indian and international players would provide opportunities to draw on different playing styles and experiences, with tactical discipline, communication, physical preparation and consistency forming the focus of the team’s preparations.

Resolute Sports chairman Alok Sanghi said finalising the squad was an important step towards building a competitive unit, adding that the growth of professional volleyball in India presented opportunities to expand the sport’s audience and create more pathways for players.

Delhi Toofans made an immediate impact in the league by reaching the final in their inaugural campaign in 2024, finishing runners-up. They will now aim to build on that performance as the competition enters its fifth season.

With the squad and support staff confirmed, the franchise will focus on team combinations, tactical preparation and coordination ahead of the November 30 start.

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