Sport-S’ setters Warren Muhangi and Albert Gayi had to endure malaria in their NSSF Volleyball League tie against Nemostars, and almost got rewarded for their toughness. Sport-S who have won the league four times pushed the reigning champions all through the five sets, but Nemostars eventually came out on top 3-2 victor.
The game was dominated by both teams in turns as Nemostars took the first set 25-23 before giving away a seven point lead (20-13) to lose the second 25-23. Nemostars’ centre blocker Christopher Ajena has struggled to attack Smith Okmu’s short balls, since joining the club last year, but was crucial in the sets Nemostars dominate.
“Everyone is out to hunt us down, but we are as well fighting to keep ourselves where we are,” Said Ajena. “We work hard every day at training, and every time we come for games it shows just like today, If Sport-S was working harder than we do, maybe they would have had the victory,” Ajena added.
Sport-S’ Dickens Otim and Ivan Ongom continued to struggle forcing the coach Benon Mugisha to bench the latter for long spells. Ongom kept on complaining about the poor sets from setters Warren Muhangi and Albert Gayi. After gaining the lead in the third set (25-14), Nemostars struggled to tame Sport-S in the fourth.
Nemostars’ Tom Paul Amou, faltered on reception on four critical times, the few times he got right, Louis Mugangizi fumbled on attack. On the other hand, everything from, block to attack was winning points for Sport-Sjust on point for Sport-S’ Andrew Wandera and Allan Karashan.
Sport-S forced a tie breaker with a 25-17 score, Nemostars later won the decisive set, 15-10. “We came to give our all and you could see, we are getting better each game the passes, and we lost to a team that is clearly fitter and stronger than us,” said Sport-S’ captain Wandera.
Nemostars were later awarded a walkover after Ndejje Sharks failed to turn up for the Saturday fixture, but later defeated Gulu 3-0, to keep in reach with KAVC who defeated Old Kampala 3-1 to finish their first round fixtures.
Selected weekend results
Serie A
Nkumba 3-2 CU (25-22, 19-25, 25-15, 14-25, 15-7)
Nemostars 3-2 Sports-S (25-22, 23-25, 25-14, 18-25, 15-10)
OKVC 3-0 Gulu (25-13, 25-21, 31-29)
UCU 0-3 Sport-S (22-25, 22-25, 17-25)
Nemostars 3-0 Ndejje (Walk Over)
Gulu 1-3 Nkumba (19-25, 19-25, 25-20, 21-25)
Ndejje 3-0 Gulu ( 25-14, 25-23, 25-14)
Nemostars 3-0 Gulu (25-10, 25-20, 25-19)
OKVC 1-3 KAVC (25-21, 17-25, 21-25, 12-25)
Serie C
Air force 0-3 Mattrixx (12-25, 15-25, 11-25)
Iganga 3-2 Destiny (24-26, 16-25, 25-18, 25-21, 17-15)
Mattrixx 3-0 Kazo (25-11, 25-16, 25-20)
Iganga 3-0 Air force (25-16, 25-20, 25-18)
Prisons 3-0 Laures (25-20, 25-18, 27-25)
Police 2-3 Thunders (20-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-15, 11-15)
Laures 3-1 Mutessa (25-15, 20-25, 25-23, 28-26)
Prison 3-2 Police (25-19, 10-25, 19-25, 25-20, 15-13)
Serie B
Tiger 3-0 UPDF (25-11, 25-14, 25-15)
Mulago 3-1 KAVC-B (25-16, 17-25, 25-23, 25-13)
A1 0-3 Sport-S Tigers (21-25, 18-25, 18-25)
UPDF 2-3 KAVC-B (14-25, 15-25, 25-23, 25-23, 14-16)
JVC 3-0 Namboole (30-28, 25-21, 25-15)
Mulago 2-3 Sport-S Tigers (25-14, 21-25, 25-14, 11-25, 10-15)
UPDF 3-2 Namboole (21-25, 19-25, 25-19, 25-23, 15-13)
Sport-S Tiger 3-1 JVC (25-14, 25-21, 29-31, 25-11)
