On April 16, 2014, Uganda Volleyball Federation (UVF) and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) entered a three year partnership. NSSF were to sponsor the national league at a tune UShs 180M for over three years with an annual budget of UShs 60M.
For 60M every year UVF gave away the naming rights of the league and NSSF were supposed to partly cater for things like buying technical equipment like balls, nets, antennas, score sheets and lineup sheets which were to be used during matches.
We have decided to take care of volleyball since everyone was going elsewhere. We are mindful of the fact that development of sports requires a concerted effort, so we call upon Ugandans to support this effort
NSSF acting managing director of the time Geraldine Ssali told journalist at the launch of the deal.
First forward to 2015 and it was last Friday when two NSSF Volleyball league ties were scheduled to be played at the well branded (with NSSF teardrops) Lugogo indoor.
The first tie was planned to start at 6PM and two time women champions Ndejje Elites were to play Sport-S and later men’s champions KAVC were to take on Sky.
The ladies game that was supposed to start at 6PM was delayed till 6:50 because Sport Organizing Commission (SOC) didn’t have the necessary equipment in place.
Actually it took the intervention of Vision Volleyball Camp (VVC) coach Hannington Nsubuga to save the situation, offering the officials of the day with balls, and the Antennas so that action would kick off.
Actually former SOC chairman Innocent Komaketch went further and asked Nsubuga to help them with lineup sheets
Anyway, Ndejje prevailed over Sport-S 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 16-25, 15-9), while on the other hand KAVC marched over Sky in straight sets (25-17 25-18, 25-15).
And it was the same story on Saturday at the MUBs grounds in Nakawa where all national volleyball league divisions had fixtures lined up on four courts and none of those four courts had antennas.
But again the sponsors’ billboards and teardrops were littered all over the place and visible to everyone. And this was the trend from last season coming into this season.
NSSF Volleyball League weekend results
Serie A
Nkumba 3-1 Ndejje (23-25, 25-8, 27-25, 25-15)
KAVC-A 3-0 Sky (25-17 25-18, 25-15)
Nemostars 3-1 Ndejje (25-21, 24-26, 28-26, 25-16)
Nkumba 3-0 Gulu (25-13, 25-19, 25-20)
Sport-S Tigers 3-1 KCCA (26-24, 25-23, 21-25, 28-26)
Okvc 3-1 Gulu (25-14, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23)
Sport-S 3-0 KCCA (25-16, 25-16, 25-14)
KAVC 3-0 OKVC (25-21, 25-19, 30-28)
UCU3-2 Sky (25-23, 20-25, 26-24, 23-25, 16-14)
Women
Ndejje 3-2 Sport-S (21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 16-25, 15-9)
UCU 3-0 KCCA (25-22, 25-19, 26-24)
VVC 3-0 Mulago (25-7, 25-8, 25-7)
KAVC 3-0 Nemostars (25-20, 25-15, 25-23)
Nkumba 3-0 Thunders (25-8, 25-10, 25-18)
Ndejje 3-1 Espoir (25-23, 25-20, 15-25, 25-13)
Sport-S 3-1 KAVC-B (23-25, 25-13, 25-18, 25-18)
Nemostars 3-0 Nkumba (25-0, 25-0, 25-0)
VVC 3-0 Cobap (25-3, 25-9, 25-5)
Serie B
Mattrixx 3-0 KAVC-C (25-11, 25-22, 26-24)
Painters 3-2 VVC (27-25, 23-25, 14-25, 25-16, 15-10)
JVC 3-1 Namboole (20-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-18)
Painters 3-0 JVC (25-16, 25-21, 25-23)
Cobap 3-0 KAVC-B (25-20, 25-19, 19-25, 25-11)
VVC 3-2 Sharing (25-22, 23-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-12)
Mattrixx 3-2 Painters (21-25, 25-23,25-27, 25-15, 15-10)
Serie C
Destiny 3-1 Wazeei (20-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-16)
Wazeei 3-2 A1 (25-21, 15-25, 25-21, 20-25, 15-8)
A1 3-1 UPDF (24-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-21)
Wazeei 3-1 UPDF (25-21, 25-17, 14-25, 25-21)
Police 3-2 Kazo Stingers (25-22, 22-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-11)