Nasiwu wants progress for national teams

Volleyball. Uganda Volleyball Federation want to add on their laurels of the previous season and initiate the game in more primary schools.

Sadiq Nasiwu, the re-elected Uganda Volleyball Federation president, has disclosed the top three priorities on his to-do list in his last four-year term.

While announcing his new-look executive on Tuesday, Nasiwu earmarked promoting the men and women national teams, seeking goodwill of more corporate sponsors and building a strong relationship with the local media to market the game better as the top three items on his agenda.

“Our national teams have been sleeping giants in the region,” confessed Nasiwu, who was re-elected after his rival Eddie Okila stepped down during the elective Annual General Assembly held on January 13 at Oasis Restaurant in Lugogo.

“I want to promote and expose our national side to more action both at the regional and continental level. “By the end of this term, our national teams should be able to out-compete our neighbours.”

The men’s team last competed at the 2011 Zone V All Africa Games qualifiers in Kigali whereas the women had their last run-out at the 2008 Africa Nations Championship in Nairobi where they finished eighth.

Nasiwu noted that for the national outfits to favourably rub shoulders with the rest they need the sustainable backing of the corporate sponsors. “Unlike in the past, we have assigned someone (Sammy Laloyo) to spearhead the marketing and sponsorship department this time round,” said Nasiwu. “It is the only way our team will not skip international events.”

Last season was also a remarkable one for the game as it attracted a lot of media attention and the former KAVC star player wants more this season.

“We have worked hard to improve the standard of the game,” he said. “Now we want to scale more heights.”

ckyazze@ug.nationmedia.com