Cobra coach declares readiness to defend Aporu Okol crown
The annual tournament, played in memory of Dr. Aporu Okol's legacy in volleyball, has been scheduled to run from Friday 12 to Sunday 14, June 2026 at Kumi Boma Grounds in eastern Uganda.
Juba Volleyball Club (in red) taking on Nemostars in the men's final of last year's 29th edition. Photo by Gabriel Esiku
Cobra Volleyball Club coach David Mathiang has sent a strong warning to contenders in the 2026 edition of the Aporu Okol International Volleyball Tournament, declaring that his team is fully prepared to defend the title they won during the 2025 competition.
The annual tournament, played in memory of Dr. Aporu Okol's legacy in volleyball, has been scheduled to run from Friday 12 to Sunday 14, June 2026 at Kumi Boma Grounds in eastern Uganda.
Mathiang, who led the South Sudan-based volleyball club to its first-ever final and crowned champions of the 31st edition of the tournament, is confident that his players have received sufficient training to challenge their opponents.
"We are well prepared, focused, and ready for the challenge ahead. The competition will be tough, but we believe in our ability. Our goal is to defend the title, and we are taking every game seriously," said Mathiang.
According to Mathiang, the club has been concentrating on signing new players from different clubs, and now has a complete team ready for the challenge.
"The morale is high, and we expect to do better than last year in both the men's and women's categories," he added.
The tournament, which attracts clubs, corporates, institutions, and secondary and primary schools from across Uganda and neighboring East African regions such as Kenya, South Sudan, and Tanzania, is held in memory of Dr. Aporu Okol.
Meanwhile, Apollo Namanya, coach of Nemostars Volleyball Club, said his players are set to bounce back and ready to encounter the defending champions.
"We managed to win the 30th edition of the tournament, but last year we did not make it due to unavoidable circumstances. Now the club is focused and ready to win," Namanya said.
Cissy Opede, chairperson of the Kumi District Volleyball Association, said the tournament has recorded an increase in the number of teams that have confirmed their presence. According to Opede, a total of 108 teams have confirmed their participation in the championship, compared to previous years.