The technical meeting for the 47th CAVB Men’s African Club Championship (ACC) has concluded, providing teams with a clear roadmap to the final.
For Uganda’s volleyball giants, Nemostars, that road begins in a daunting Pool A. The draw pitted Nemostars against the tournament hosts, Armee Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) Volleyball Club.
While APR, who finished fourth in last year’s edition, are the heavy favourites to top the group, the competition remains wide open as matches get underway on Wednesday.
In addition to Nemostars and APR, Pool A features a competitive mix of regional powerhouses, Petrojet Sport Club (Egypt), Litto Team Volleyball Club (Cameroon), National Customs Service (Nigeria) and Black Rhinos Volleyball Club (Zimbabwe).
This marks the ninth continental appearance for Nemostars. After a disappointing 19th-place finish last year, the Ugandan side has bolstered its roster in hopes of a deep run.
Success will likely hinge on the veteran leadership of Smith Okumu and George Aporu. The duo stands out as the most experienced pair in the entire tournament, with eight ACC campaigns under their belts.
Their steady hands will be vital in navigating the high-pressure environment of a pool that includes the host nation.
Uganda’s second representative, Sport-S Volleyball Club, finds itself in an equally challenging Pool B.
Their path to the knockout stages requires them to bypass last year’s bronze medalists, Al Ahly, along with Kepler (Rwanda), Cameroon Sport Volleyball (Cameroon), Equity (Kenya) and AS Injis (Ivory Coast).
With the tournament officially underway, both Ugandan clubs face immediate tests of their resolve against some of the continent’s most elite programs.
All the Pools
Pool A
- Armee Patriotique Rwandaise Volleyball Club – Rwanda
- Litto Team Volleyball – Cameroon
- National Customs Services – Nigeria
- Black Rhinos VC – Zimbabwe
- Nemostars – Uganda
- Petrojet Sporting Club
Pool B
- Al Ahly – Egypt
- Cameroon Sports Volleyball – Cameroon
- Kepler – Rwanda
- Sport-S – Uganda
- AS Injis – Ivory Coast
- Equity – Kenya
Pool C
- FUS Rabat – Morocco
- Kenya Ports Authority – Kenya
- Wolaitta Dicha – Ethiopia
- Prisons Service – Tanzania
- Police – Rwanda
- Ghana Army – Ghana
Pool D
- General Service Unit – Kenya
- Port Autonome De Douala – Cameroon
- Atlético Clube Do Mindelo – Cape Verde
- Rukinzo – Burundi
- Kalibi Sporting Club – Ghana
- Rwanda Energy Group – Rwanda
