Twenty-two men and fourteen women volleyball clubs have confirmed their participation in the 24th edition of the National Club Championship, from the 3rd to the 4th of September in Iganga.
The annual two-day tournament will be hosted by UVL Serie A champions Orange Block Busters Volleyball Club at their home, Shukran Camp Center.
A winner from both tiers (Men and Women) gets to represent Uganda at the CAVB Africa Club Championship next year. Nemo stars and Ndejje Elites are last to represent Uganda at the continental stage.
Sport S is the prevailing tournament champion in the Men’s cohort after they beat finalist Nemo stars in January, at the Old Kampala Arena.
The two meet again starting tomorrow along with sides like the Uganda Christian University (UCU), and Kampala Capital City Authority, which have put up a formidable challenge in the most recent Open tournaments.
Hosts OBB won the Nkumba University Open in June but suffered an early exit in the groups at the KAVC Memorial tournament last month, a tourney they played with an on and off setter in John Bosco Opendi, and without horseman Ivan Ongom.
In the women’s bout, Ndejje Elites are still a dominant side after winning both the League and National Club Championship titles.
They beat Vision Volleyball Club to win the league and Kampala Capital City Authority to win the club Championship in Kabale last year.
The tournament has received a prestigious reception, as OBB is a sole powerhouse in the Busoga and Eastern region, where the game of volleyball is a popular sport.
Individuals and companies like Ngemeraku investments have come out to show their support to the host club with cash and refreshments.
Teams will be received today at the Shukran camp center-CMS Former kiss building along Iganga-Jinja highway as they are expected to have a representative for a technical meeting at 20:00hrs tonight, -Friday- in the Huts House where they will be drawn into groups.
Competition in the groups and Quarter-Finals starts on Saturday and drags on to Sunday at the Iganga Municipal council primary school in Iganga town.
Semifinals and finals will be at Shukran camp center-CMS followed by the closing ceremony that’s expected to be graced by the State Minister for education and sports Hon Peter Ogwang.
MEN
1. OBB 2. THUNDERS 3. KAVC 4. ENTEBBE 5. GULU 6. JVC 7. NDEJJE 8. SKY 9. POLICE 10. KU 11. UCU 12. VVC 13. KCCA 14. ST CHARLES 15. UPDF 16. SPORT-S 17. TIGERS 18. NEMO 19. COBAP-UG 20. KAMPALA ROYAL 21. NEMO GUARDS 22. Nkumba University VC
WOMEN