Volleyball camp thrills stars

Jacqueline Kalungi tips players yesterday at Kibuli SS. PHOTO BY GEORGE KATONGOLE

Jacqueline Kalungi, a US college volleyball team player says sport has the potential to lift girls to another level, physically and emotionally.

While conducting a one-day volleyball camp at Kibuli SS yesterday, the 27-year-old, started 31 of 32 matches and played in 117 sets for Winthrop University by leading the team with 473 kills on 1,217 attacks in 2012, is a co-founder of Henry Kalungi Foundation with her husband, Henry.
Yesterday was the first organisation of what should become an annual camp that will be set up at Kibuli SS before the Foundation gets its own home.

Fifteen women, some of them players with national league teams, attended the camp which was partly supported by Winthrop University and the USA Volleyball. The organisation aims to contribute to the women physical development through volleyball trainings as well as being good athletes in the future.

Speaking to Daily Monitor in an interview, Jacqueline said she dreamed of improving girls in sport with her husband, who currently plays with Charlotte Independence, who play in the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid.

“I decided to take a step to realise my dream with my husband. We started to think about this project in a very comprehensive way. We have in the past been involved in soccer which was established as a result of this dream. But as a former volleyball player, I need to give back to the sport that nurtured me,” she said.

More connections
Uganda Volleyball President Hadijah Namanda lauded the opportunity as timely saying it is an opportunity to inspire players to be successful in every aspect of life. Namanda said that the camp is a good start for the future connections.

“We have areas that are greatly lacking especially in terms of facilities and such connections are key to our federation. If you take this opportunity seriously, maybe we can achieve more benefits from the US federation,” Namanda told the players.