Nemostars’ coach Andrew Okapis is impressed with the strides his side is taking to be in shape for Men’s African Club Championship slated for Cairo, Egypt from March 23 to April 1.
Okapis was speaking after his side’s training this week at East Kololo Primary School. “Everyone looks to be positive and in fine shape. Of course there are a few issues we need to work on and improve and that’s the main task we are working on right now,”
Nemostars are preparing for their fourth appearance on the continent, and fly out in six days’ time with hope of bettering their previous performances.
Nemostars blocking
“We are beyond the level of mere participants. This team is strong enough to compete with some of the big boys on the continent. That’s our target, to at least qualify for the knockout stages.
At their first appearance on the continent in 2013, Nemostars were ranked 11th out of 17 teams. That position later deteriorated to 17 out of 21 teams in Tunisia in 2014. Last year in the same country, the three time Uganda champions finished a distant 21st out of 24 teams.
Nemostars patron Neko Muduse-Ojala said; “We are trying to appeal to the public to bail us out. We have always relied on well-wishers to bail us out, the reason we have managed to travel in the past
Nemostars qualified to represent Uganda for the fourth straight year after winning the national league last December; they defeated Sport-S 2-1 in the best of three finals.
Rayon Sports and Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) retained the Genocide Memorial Tournament titles in the men and women’s categories, after beating APR 3-2 and Nairobi Water 3-0 at Amahoro Indoor Stadium, respectively on Sunday.
This is the second consecutive Genocide Memorial Tournament title for Rayon Sports and head coach Fidele Nyirimana was thankful to his players.
“I am happy with this title and my players gave it everything to win this tournament. It was a tough game but we managed to reduce our mistakes in the last set which helped us retain title,” said the Blues coach.
His APR counterpart, on the other hand, Sammy Mutemi Mulinge, said he was heartbroken. “We have lost to them for the second time (in a final) but this is part of the game. I am thankful to my players who gave everything to win the game.”
The Men’s cup
APR dominated the opening set and were 8-3 at the first technical time out and went on to win it 25-18 thanks largely to the brilliant displays of Theodore Thiambo and Yves Mutabazi in attack and the service of James Ontere and Yves Mutabazi.
Rayon Sports improved their block in the second set, eventually winning it 25-18 thanks mainly to good services by Pierre Marshal Kwizera and good blocks by Guillaume Irakarama, Theogene Tuyishime, Kwizera and Adolphe Mutoni. APR came back strong to win the third set 25-16 inspired by Nelson Murangwa’s spikes and Kwizera’s blocks but Rayon leveled the game after winning the fourth set 25-16.
APR struggled in the decisive set after Rayon Sports dominated with 11-7, but the former managed to rally and make it 11-13, following strong services of Ontere. However, Murangwa rose to the occasion taking Rayon Sports to 14 before Mutabazi ensured his side retained the title.
The contest between the two local rivals was witnessed by a fully packed Amahoro Indoor Stadium with about 2000 fans.
The winners celebrate
Meanwhile, RRA retained their title after beating Nairobi Water 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-20), overcoming the Kenyans for the second consecutive time in this tournament.
RRA (women) and Rayon Sports (men) walked away with Rwf500, 000 while second-placed Sport-S and APR received Rwf300, 000 in the women’s and men’s categories, respectively.
Third-placed Nemostars and Vision from Uganda in the men and women’s categories, bagged Rwf150, 000.
INATEK lost the third place playoff to Ugandan side Nemostars 3-2 (25-22, 16-25, 11-25, 25-14, 13-15) while in the women’s category, Vision beat Sport-S to win the third position (26-24, 25-19, 24-26 and 25-15) in the all-Ugandan affair.
Rayon Sports’ Nelson Murangwa was crowned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the men’s category while Seraphine Mukantambara of RRA became the MVP in the women’s category.
Ugandan George Aporu was named the best receiver, while Kwizera was the best server and Bonny Mutabazi of APR the best setter. Mutabazi walked away with the best attacker award while INATEK’s Peter Bigirimana was named the best libero.
In the women’s category, Charlotte Nzayisenga of RRA was the best server while the best setter award went to Ernestine of RRA.
Rayon Sport celebrating
Final results
Women
RRA v Nairobi Water 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-20),
Men
Rayon Sports v APR 3-2 (18-25, 25-18, 16-25, 25-16, 15-11)
2014 Men’s African Club Championship- Sousse- Tunisia
National volleyball League and Club Champions Nemostars unveiled their new signing before they depart for the Africa Club Championship in Sousse Tunisia next week. Centre blockers Fahad Zungu, Wilfred Masaba both from Cobap, David Segulanyi and Ben Oyat both from UCU Doves were all present to be present to the media.
Setter Derrick Kazooba from St Mary’s Kitende and Libero Joseph Opeto a student with Gombe SS are the teenagers in the side. “It’s for be better of the club, we have been winning with a small squad, a bigger squad will give us an impact in terms of numbers,” Nemostars technical director Tom Paul Amou told kawowo.com.
There has been a growing concern about Nemostars performance this after an impressive 2013 term. “It’s true the new players have brought in a temporary effect negatively.” “It takes time to blend; we have to get down to their level then grow with them.”
“And we will take our time, it is just a matter of time that everyone will,” Amou added. Nemostars have so far los three titles of the eight they won last season, they also finished 11 out of 17 clubs at the 2013 Africa Club Championship.
What the new signings had to say
Fahad Zungu: We came to club that demands results, right now a few things are lacking but it is just matter of time.
Wilfred Masaba: Am here to give my best by carrying the club just like the other players.
David Segulanyi: I found Nemostars up there, I want to make sure that status stays the way I found it.
Ben Oyat: I have always been a Nemostars though the two years I have been away, the team took big strides, right now it is all about working hard to fit in the team.
Derrick Kazooba: From high school, the champions club chose a small thing, because they saw something in me, I will give my best to make sure I only get better.
Joseph Opeto: My only challenge is confidence, I still have a lot to learn and am only glad Nemostars have given me that chance to develop my talent.
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