With three appearances at the Africa Clubs Championship, Ndejje Elites head coach Johnson Kawenyera believes his charges have come of age and should be trying to compete at the competition.
Flagged off Monday morning at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium, Ndejje will compete at the championship for the fourth time.
“We have played there before and we should be able to deal with some of the challengers that bothered us before,” Kawenyera told Kawowo Sports after the team’s flag-off.
Ndejje, who made their debut on the continent in 2013, are Uganda’s only representatives with National Clubs Championship winners, Sport-S failing to raise funds for the tournament.
“We have players who have been there three times and know what it takes to compete at this level,” Kawenyera added.
Team captain Belinda Jepkirui, Saidat Nnungi, Maureen Mwamula and Christine Alupo are some of the senior players the Luwero-based side will rely on to have another go at beating their best finish of 8th place.
“The senior players have to work with the young ones to make a good team”
Ndejje boast a blend of young and experienced with Sharon Amito, Joan Tushemereirwe expected to express themselves better than they did the last time in Tunis.
Ndejje registered the first piece of silverware by winning the Joan Cox tournament before falling to Sport-S in the finals of the Ndejje Open.
The university side, winners of last year’s women’s league, started the year with a strong message to their challengers but will now set their eyes on the continental expedition.
Returnees Nnungi, Jesca Kaidu and Mwamula will be expected to give them a push with the team’s realistic target being a quarterfinal berth.
“We want to perform well but we must remain realistic. We want to get out of the group and play the quarter finals,” Kawenyera revealed.
To qualify for the championship, Ndejje defeated Nkumba to win the national league title.