NCS halts volleyball league finals amid player eligibility dispute

The Men's National Volleyball League finals have been halted after the National Council of Sports (NCS) stepped in, raising fresh questions about how the Uganda Volleyball Federation (UVF) is handling the ongoing player eligibility dispute.

The finals, which were due to start on Wednesday, were called off following a directive from NCS, the government body that supervises sports federations in Uganda.

A statement from UVF said the decision came after NCS asked the federation to explain how it handled the controversial semifinal case.

"We have this morning received communication from our government supervisor, the National Council of Sports, requesting clarification on the Men's semifinal dispute and the process through which the federation reached its decision," the statement reads.

"In light of this, game one of the Men's Finals has been called off pending further engagement with all relevant parties. A new date will be communicated in due course."

The latest development follows a complaint by Nemostars Volleyball Club to NCS, challenging a UVF decision that disqualified them from the playoffs.

Last month, UVF banned Nemostars and St. Charles Lwanga Ntinda Volleyball Club from the finals after finding them guilty of using ineligible players. The ruling, signed by UVF president Sadik Zaid Nasiwu, followed petitions from Elyon Volleyball Club and Nkumba Volleyball Club. Elyon and Nkumba were awarded 3-0 victories and advanced to the finals.

However, Nemostars rejected the decision, insisting that their players were cleared before the season and played all matches without any complaint. The dispute centers on players Salya Marial and Federico Mujinya, whose eligibility has been questioned. The club maintains that it followed all federation rules and that the players were properly registered.

The ongoing dispute has exposed potential weaknesses in how volleyball is managed in Uganda. Some stakeholders are now questioning whether rules are applied fairly to all teams and whether the player registration system is functioning properly.

According to UVF regulations, clubs must submit entry forms at least one month before the league starts. Only clubs affiliated with the federation and players whose fees are fully paid are allowed to compete. However, the current situation has raised concerns about whether these rules are enforced equally.

This is now the third week without a clear conclusion to the season.