Ndejje Elites and Nkumba University have been the face of women volleyball for the past five years, not only in Uganda but also internationally. Their invitation to the 17th edition of NSSF KAVC International has been long overdue, but it finally came and they will challenge seasoned competitors like KAVC and KCCA.
“The tournament was initially dedicated to premier clubs,” KAVC president Mofaht Masaba said two months ago. “Nkumba and Ndejje have come of age over the years; there is no way we would have left them out this time round,” Masaba added.
The two sides were also the core backbone of the national team during the just concluded Zone Five Federation of International Volleyball World Championship in Nairobi Kenya. They had eight players in total.
“Back then institutions never used to treat themselves as clubs,” Ndejje coach Johnson Kawenyera said. “Until of recent when we started to prove that we can play even much better volleyball than them (clubs),” he added.
Ndejje and Nkumba have five league titles between them on top of playing at the prestigious Africa Club Championships. “We will definitely add value to the NSSF KAVC International because of our exposure, especially in a competition that has seen foreign women teams shunning the past editions,” Kawenyera added.
The absence of foreign teams has seen KCCA win the title a record four straight times. The presence of Ndejje and Nkumba will deter the former’s chances of lifting a fifth straight final.
“KCCA, KAVC, Ndejje, Nkumba, are the best four teams in the country. With or without foreign teams those four will give fans value for their money,”
Ndejje are not only league champions but also the reigning National champions on top of winning the Dr. Aporu-Okol Memorial in June. The tournament officially starts today.
