Okello boosts Nemostars ahead of African Club Championship in Libya
The six-time National Volleyball League champions departed Uganda on Thursday morning with a squad of ten players, with Okello expected to play a pivotal role due to his vast experience.
Senior sports officer at NCS Annie Nankya (extreme left) flagging off the team. photo by Gerald Kikulwe
Gerald Kikulwe
Journalist @New Vision
Uganda’s professional volleyball player Daudi Okello has joined Nemostars to bolster their squad ahead of the CAVB African Volleyball Club Championship, which runs from Saturday until April 30 in Misrata, Libya.
The six-time National Volleyball League champions departed Uganda on Thursday morning with a squad of ten players, with Okello expected to play a pivotal role due to his vast experience.
The 2014 National Volleyball League MVP will team up with fellow national team players Bernard Malinga, captain George Aporu, and Smith Okumu.
Okello, who recently returned from his professional club Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi in Indonesia, had been training alone before Nemostars called him up. He urged his teammates to remain confident, emphasizing that they have the ability to compete against Africa’s best.
“The main difference is that overseas players treat volleyball as a full-time job—they are well-paid, which motivates them to train harder. In Uganda, the sport is largely voluntary, but I believe we can still perform well,” Okello said during the team’s flag-off ceremony, overseen by National Council of Sports (NCS) senior sports officer Annie Nankya on Wednesday.
This marks Okello’s second appearance in the championship, having previously competed in 2015 with KAVC. For Nemostars, this is their eighth participation, with their best performance coming in 2019 when they finished sixth. This time, they are aiming for the final.
During the flag-off, Nankya emphasized discipline and hard work, stating, “As NCS, we prioritize support for the best federations and teams. Go and raise Uganda’s flag high—we stand behind you.”
In addition to Okello, Nemostars have also recruited UCU men’s volleyball team captain Mark Omara. The squad also includes Esau Ecil, Willington Talemwa, Steven Wandera, John Bosco Opend, and Brian Musinguzi.
The team’s officials are head coach Tom Amou, manager Safina Naggayi, head of delegation Hanifa Lubega, and international umpire Steven Komakech.