KCB-Nkumba coach Tony Lakony reflects on bittersweet volleyball season

National Volleyball League

Saturday 11th

Women Third Place (Bronze)
Sport-S 1 KCB-Nkumba 3

Men Serie B (Game 1)
Prisons 3 Nkumba University 2

Series 1-0

Women Serie B (Game 2)
Nkumba University 1 Elyon 3

Series 1-1

KCB-Nkumba head coach Tony Lakony has reflected on a mixed National Volleyball League season, in which his team went unbeaten in the regular season but fell short in the playoffs before rebounding to win bronze against Sport-S.

Lakony attributed the team’s consistency in the regular season to clear targets set at the start of the campaign.

“We finished the regular season unbeaten mainly because at the start of the season we set our main target to win games. It worked because our aim was to reach the playoffs,” he said.

Despite their perfect record, KCB-Nkumba were eliminated in the semi-finals by Vision Volleyball Club (VVC), who staged a strong comeback to win the series after losing to Nkumba in the regular season and the first playoff game.

Lakony admitted the playoffs exposed key challenges.

“Playoffs are a different ball game. It is mental and tense. At the wrong time, some of my players had disturbances, especially in reception and service,” he explained.

He added that the defeat was difficult but also a learning moment for the squad.

“It is always hard in such situations. You must get the players and look for positives. They had a good season, and we aimed not to end with disappointment in third place.”

KCB-Nkumba responded well in the third-place playoff, defeating Sport-S 3-1 (25:17, 21:25, 25:16, 25:20) to secure bronze. The team lost the second set but controlled the rest of the match to finish on a high.

Lakony discussed the technical gaps that cost them in the semi-finals and must be addressed next season.

“The areas we need to work on are service reception and tactical consistency, especially setting variety. We have a very good quick attack, but we did not execute it well in the semi-finals, and that cost us,” he noted.

KCB-Nkumba had dominated the regular season with 18 wins from 18 matches and were strong favorites going into the playoffs.

In the women’s final series, VVC continued their strong form, drawing level with KCCA Volleyball Club after a hard-fought 3-2 win at Old Kampala Arena, showing the same determination they displayed against Nkumba.

Elsewhere, the men’s and women’s National Volleyball League finals remain affected by disputes and delays. The men’s final series has been halted following intervention by the National Council of Sports (NCS) over a player eligibility case involving Nemostars Volleyball Club. The controversy has left the season without a clear conclusion for four weeks.

In the men’s Serie B final, Prisons leads Nkumba University 1–0 after a 3-2 win (25:19, 19:25, 25:19, 21:25, 15:9).

In the women’s Serie B, Elyon leveled the final series at 1–1 after a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Nkumba University. Nkumba won the second set 25–15, but Elyon showed greater consistency and control in key moments, edging a tight opening set 31–29 before dominating the third and fourth sets 25–15 and 25–18 to seal the win. The result sets up a decisive Game 3, with both teams still in contention for the Serie B title.