Sport-S vs Nemostars: 3-0 (25-14, 25-12, 20 – 25)
Sky VC vs OBB: 0-3 (11-25, 21-25, 15-25)
Nkumba vs Ndejje: 1-3 (10-25, 25-17, 14-25, 19-25)
OBB ladies vs Sport-S ladies: 2-3 (25-15, 20-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-17)
For over a decade, Sport-S and Nemostars have been dominant sides in Uganda Volleyball, making their fixtures (in any competition) a must watch encounter for the lovers of the sport.
Seasons come and go, and so has the Kololo side’s form which has of late struggled (and failed), to win a single set against their Nsambya cousins.
The two teams last matched energies in the 2021/22 season when they met for the National Club Championships -which Sport-S won-, and since then, the Nemos have been a shadow of themselves in the face of the black and yellow camp.
Saturday’s encounter was no different from their most recent meeting as Sport-S redrew a three-Nil mark on the Nemostars to complete a double dominance in the season regular play.
Nemo took the front foot leading by two points before Johnson Rukundo -who is yet to regain top form- stood out as a breaker for Sport-S who had started in a trailing stance.
Both sides were slow on defense despite lining up their top guns for the battle, but a blunt attacking line by the Nemos saw the Nsambya outfit seal a comfortable win at the old Kampala Arena.
Sport-S capitalized on a demoralized Nemo who had to forge survival between an inconsistent reception and a not-functioning block in the middle to keep themselves floating.
The Kololo opponents were kept at bay with Emmanuel Okia and Johnson Rukundo playing a strong block defense against Esau Ecil and wing hitter Tony Kasumba, rendering them functionless.
Sport-S again played without their Left handed Captain Dickens Otim but managed to make light work off the Nemos. Set two ended 25-12 and Thon Makar was the man to stop on the Sport-S attack.
Setter Marino Oboke balanced sets in all three attack positions, giving his charges an upper hand over a side that he says are a better team “phycologically” and need better tactics to win against.
The third set brought hope to the Nemostars after a seemingly bored Sport-S lifted foot from the gas pedal, drawing the Nemos close enough to even force a tie at 17 from nine but a crucial time out call by Benon Mugisha recomposed the stuttering Nsambya boys.
In the other games played on Saturday, Sport-S women beat the Orange Block Busters 3-2, Ndejje men beat Nkumba 3-1 in a University derby, and the League defending Champions OBB beat Sky VC 3-0.
In the next fixtures, on Sunday 29th, Sport-S women return against Espoir at 10am, KCB – Nkumba play KAVC women at 12pm, while KAVC men face Tigers at 2pm and Uganda Christian University take on KCCA volleyball club at 4pm.
