Following the release of the continental draws, Nemostars head coach Godfrey Okumu has laid down a daring marker for his squad.
Despite being drawn into a daunting group that includes heavyweights from Egypt (Petrojet Sporting Club) and Cameroon (Litto Team), Okumu isn’t just looking to survive; he is aiming for the top.
The draw has placed the Ugandan giants in a fascinating pool alongside the tournament hosts (APR VC), Litto Team VC, National Customs Services, Petrojet and Black Rhinos.
It’s a tricky pool with a powerhouse Egyptian side, and a formidable Cameroonian team that reached the quarterfinals in the previous edition.
While the tournament format allows for a broader qualification margin of four from the group, Coach Okumu is adamant that the top four is not the club’s priority.
Instead, he has his eyes fixed on a top-two finish to unlock a strategic advantage in the knockout phases.
By securing a spot at the top of the group or finishing second, Nemostars could avoid the heavy hitters in the next round and instead face lower seeds from the opposing pools.
“The way I see things, we have a very huge chance to qualify to the next round,” Okumu said, analyzing the draw.
“We are not actually aiming for the top four but rather a top two. It’s very important because a top-two finish will give us a slight chance to go to the semifinals, as you end up playing the third or fourth-placed teams of the other pools.”
The inclusion of an Egyptian side—traditionally the masters of the African game—and a battle-hardened Cameroonian squad would make many coaches nervous.
However, Okumu believes the Nemostars’ DNA is built for exactly this kind of environment.
The coach pointed to the club’s history of navigating high-stakes matches as the reason for his calm demeanour. For Okumu, pressure is a familiar friend rather than a foe.
As the club ramps up its final preparations, the message from the technical bench to the fans and the players is one of absolute belief. Okumu is confident that his roster has the maturity to handle the continental stage.
“We have been in positions of pressure very many times,” Okumu concluded. “I am confident that the boys will be able to do the job.”
With a clear roadmap to the finals now drawn up, the ball is in the Nemostars’ court to see if they can navigate the Egyptian and Cameroonian hurdles and cement their status among Africa’s elite.
