Setter Kaidu returns in time to give Elites edge

KAMPALA.

One of the things that decide volleyball games is the setter’s ability to think for the team and make the right decision for the attackers. Of course that comes with a good reception, many times.

Ndejje Elites are lucky to have all that in Jessica Kaidu, as the side hopes for a decent showing at the 28th edition of the Africa Women Volleyball Championship that volley off in Kelibia Tunisia this Friday.

But, because she is just returning to Ndejje from Sport-S, the team is yet to get used to her dynamic setting style, yet Emma Mwangi is also in the right position to lift the team.

“Emma (Mwangi) has gathered enough experience, she was there last year (in Carthage) and she knows what we need from the setter. The players are also a lot more used to her than Kaidu,” Elites coach Johnson Kawenyera told Daily Monitor.

“Jessica (Kaidu) has a lot of experience, but it’s good to have an experienced person come off the bench to help us guide the team better.”

Elites skipper Belinda Jepkirui, who was with Kaidu on the same team as Elites won their maiden league title in 2012 and went on to finish a decent eighth at the continental games in Antananarivo a year later believes they are going to have a better performance because ‘having Jessica back makes our team stronger.’

“Her overall contribution to the team is over whelming. She has given her best in all tournaments we have played in since January.”

According to Kaidu, she will bring about a lot of experience, calmness and confidence to the team.

“Setting needs thinking a lot because you are the driver of the team, and together with Mwangi, we shall try our level best to put the team high,” she said.

Apart from bettering their 11th and 12th positions in Tunis (2014) and Carthage (2016) respectively, Ndejje will also be aiming at beating Vision Volleyball Camp’s (VVC) national record.

VVC finished seventh overall which was set at the latter’s maiden appearance at the 2015 games in Cairo.