Final Push Build Up Game Result:
Lady Cranes 3 – 1 Select Side (21 – 25, 25- 21, 25 – 16 and 25-14)
The end result may have brightly colored the overall performance for the Lady Volleyball Cranes over a select side, but majority who watched that final buildup game on Wednesday evening at the MTN Lugogo indoor arena left discussing how best the team can perform to the expected standards.
The Lady Volleyball team lost the opening set 21 – 25 but bounced back gallantly to win with an identical score in the second set, and 25 – 16 and 25 – 14 in the subsequent sets to claim the buildup game with a 3 -1 score line.
“The Lady Cranes have won the game but there were issues to do with the defensive blocks and the service reception. Those are two areas that they will need polish”, Henry Mugagga, who closely followed the game said.
The team of 13 leaves for the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Thursday morning in high moods having held a team bonding 2 week’s residential training camp in Groningen, Holland, where a couple of trial games were played.
Team head coach, Tonny Lakony concurs with the concerned parties about the weak departments of the team that really need urgent address.
“The team center blockers need to be quick. We also need to up the service reception so that we pin our opponents with well executed attacks”, he says.
Against a select side that only trained less than 2 days together, the lady volleyball cranes lost out the opening set to a then fresh side that thrived majorly on great ball service and powerful attacks.
One of the positives from that build up game was the ability of the lady Cranes to stay focused and composed even after losing the first set, an attribute of many championship winning teams.
The build up, code named Final Push was organised by Oteka media in conjunction with Uganda Volleyball Federation, Cineplex Cinema (who provided free film tickets to lucky fans) and many volleyball fanatics across the divide.
In a true spirit of sportsmanship, members of the national cricket men side watched and cheered on the team throughout the match that lasted 1 hour and 24 minutes. The proceeds from the gate collections (not readily available in quantity by press time) were all given to the team.
The team is set to play in the final phase of the African qualifiers for the world women championships slated for Italy. Uganda will face hosts, Kenya in the opener, before facing Mozambique, Tunisia, Senegal, Cape Verde and Seychelles.
The Top team will qualify for the World Championships after the round robin tournament.
Full Results:
Set 1: Uganda Lady Volleyball Cranes 0 – 1 Select Side (21-25) – Lasted 23 Minutes
Set 2: Uganda Lady Volleyball Cranes 1 – 0 Select Side (25 – 21) – Lasted 27 Minutes
Set 3: Uganda Lady Volleyball Cranes 1 – 0 Select Side (25 – 16) – Lasted 21 Minutes
Set 4: Uganda Lady Volleyball Cranes 1 – 0 Select Side (25 -14) – Lasted 23 Minutes
Full Time: Uganda Lady Volleyball Cranes 3 – 1 Select Side (21-25, 25-21,25-16,25-14) – Lasted 1 Hour and 24 Minutes
The teams’ Players Available:
Lady Volleyball Cranes:
Christine Alupo (Captain), Astreede Agaaba (Vice Captain), Eunice Nuwabigaba, Milly Laker, Irene Adeke, Esther Tumwebaze, Saidat Nnungi, Eunice Amuron, Josephine Nammanda, Faridah Namajja and Maureen Mwamula.
Officials:
Tonny Peter Lakony (Head Coach), Bert Murting (Assistany)
Select Side:
Jesca Kaidu, Florence Nanyondo, Irene Amodding, Rachael Mugabi, Jackie Achieng, Margaret Namyalo, Peace Busingye, Gloria Nantege, Hasfa Nakalema, Christine Atim, Christine Naume, Tecklar Mujabi and Vivian Adeke
Officials:
Hannington Nsubuga (Coach) and Johnson Kawenyera (Assistant Coach)
