Nemostars Volleyball Club manager Safina Nagayi had expressed worries of the two time league winners facing financial constraints ahead of the African Club Championship. The team leaving next week for the March 18-30 tournament in Sousse Tunisia had only one air ticket available until Monday evening when Vambeco Enterprises Limited boosted them with 14 air tickets.
“Now am sure we are going,” Nemostars coach Anthony Ndawula, told kawowo.com after receiving the news from club chairman Joseph Eyatu. Nagayi also did receive US$5000 (about Shs15m) from Multiple Industries Limited, and Shs1.5m from National Water and Sewerage Corporatoion.
Though the team is sure of travelling, they might do without a full contingent of 12 players and six officials. “As it looks now, we are going to travel with 11 players and four officials,” club patron Neko Muduse-Ojala said.
“Though we are still optimistic of getting the remaining air tickets, and sorting out financial issues from the sponsors we have approached,” he added. “But if we fail we might find ourselves traveling with 11 players and four officials,”
Nemostars’ budget is supposed to be Shs110m which is meant to cater for transportation, accommodation, upkeep, and registration. The transportation of 18 people taking the biggest percentage of the budget, each ticket costs US$1200 (about Shs3m), together with the US$50 (about Shs12500) per day for close to fortnight.
If Nemostars make the Sousse trip they will remain the only men’s club from Uganda to play on the continent, they finished 11th out of 17 teams on their first attempt last year in Libya.
Event: CAVB Africa Club Championship
Where: Tunisia Sousse
When: March 18-30
Defending Champions: Esperance (Tunisia)
