Delhi Toofans name 14-member squad for Prime Volleyball League Season 5
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Delhi Toofans have confirmed their 14-member playing squad and full support staff for the fifth season of the Prime Volleyball League (PVL), set to kick off on 30 November. Head coach Fabio Menta, whose appointment was announced in September, will lead the franchise's on-court preparations as the team targets an improvement on last season's runners-up finish.
Squad Composition
The roster blends 11 Indian players with three international recruits drawn from Serbia, Australia, and Canada. George Antony, Deepak Kumar M, Amadou Laye Samb, and Sheik Numan have been named as outside hitters, while Abhishek Rajeev and Yoan David are slotted in as opposites. The middle-blocker positions will be held by Pravin P, Muhammed Jasim, and James Weir, with Lal Sujan M V and Muhammed Shamil O K serving as setters. Anand and Aljo Sabu are the designated liberos, and Arsak Sinan rounds out the squad as a blocker.
Support Staff and Coaching Setup
Menta will be assisted by V V Jayakumar. The broader support unit 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 spanning Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
What the Coach and Management Said
'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 mix of Indian and international players would allow the team to draw on varied playing styles, with tactical discipline, communication, physical preparation, and consistency forming the core focus of pre-season work.
Resolute Sports chairman Alok Sanghi said finalising the squad was a critical step toward assembling a competitive unit, noting that the growth of professional volleyball in India was opening new pathways for players and widening the sport's audience.
Context and What to Expect
Delhi Toofans, owned by Resolute Sports, made a commanding debut in the PVL in 2024, reaching the final in their very first season before finishing runners-up. Season 5 will be the franchise's second appearance in the league, and the pressure will be on to convert that early promise into a title. With the playing squad and support structure now locked in, the franchise will channel its efforts into team combinations, tactical preparation, and coordination ahead of the 30 November start date.