Aziz Damani return to spice up volleyball playoffs semis
Trophies Galore. (L-R) Aziz Damani Cricket Club captain Ghulam Hunzai, CEO Aziz Damani FC Benjamin Musoke, UVF president Hadijah Namanda, GOtv official Florence Nakirya and UVF’s Patricia Ahumuza at the playoffs launch yesterday. PHOTO: ISMAIL KEZAALA
What you need to know:
- Former national cricket team player (1993-2015) turned chairman selectors Benjamin Musoke, represented Aziz Damani, who will give sponsorship in terms of trophies, medals, indoor arena and officials’ wears among others.
KAMPALA. As Uganda Christian University (UCU) men’s captain John Mark Okurut held onto the Aziz Damani National Volleyball League trophy, some teased that this could be the only time he would ever have with this title.
The occasion was not the end of a pulsating final but a press conference at D’Mellos Restaurant to launch the 2018 league playoffs, which start November 6 at MTN Arena Lugogo, and will be sponsored by Gotv and Aziz Damani. “The ultimate goal for us is to lift this trophy,” bit back Okurut, whose side won the September National Club Championships (NCC) alongside hosts Nkumba (women) to qualify for the Africa Club Championships.
UCU, who topped the regular season standings with 66 points, play playoff first timers Ndejje University on November 8. Okurut believes they gathered enough lessons from last season’s semis, where they led Game One against an experienced Kampala Amateur Volleyball Club (KAVC) side but collapsed spectacularly after.
Speaking KAVC, their failure to make this year’s playoffs – a first in their history and on the back of a triumph at their own NSSF International in August – shows how competitive regular season was. Among the ladies, last year’s league finalists and NCC winners Vision Volleyball Camp are also a notable miss.
“We struggled too (in regular season) but we are baking and we are going to serve you a good cake,” Nemostars coach Andrew Okapis, whose defending champions meet Sport-S on November 6 in the repeat of last year’s finals, said.
His message was echoed by all including Nkumba libero Flavia Nandawula, whose side must outwit UCU, Ndejje and Sport-S.
“We are happy with the competitiveness as we have three university teams in the finals. The entries in Serie C, which has three sub-divisions in Kampala, Mbarara and the north, shows growth,” Uganda Volleyball Federation (UVF) president Hadijah Namanda, said.
Volleyball needs a lot of sacrifice and with this sponsorship we can grow this sport into the best in the country and hope the players have a wonderful experience,” she added.
Former national cricket team player (1993-2015) turned chairman selectors Benjamin Musoke, represented Aziz Damani, who will give sponsorship in terms of trophies, medals, indoor arena and officials’ wears among others.
“Our vision is to give everyone an opportunity to exercise their talent and it is times (playoffs) like these that inspire us. We shall continue to partner with UVF to see that this sport gains the glory it deserves,” Musoke, chief executive of Aziz Damani football side Katooke United, said.
