Italian pro volleyballers to impart skills to Ugandan girls

Former KAVC president Mohfat Masaba believes the partnership that they have established with the Italian Professional Women Volleyball League members will go a long way in helping the development of Volleyball from the grassroots.

Elisa Cella and KAVC volleyball coaches take children through drills. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

On Monday, Masaba received a five-man delegation from Italy to the country who are not only going to run a volleyball camp in the country but also to give moral support to a group of surgeons who are going to offer free surgeries to girls who have deformities in partnership with CoRSU.

"We are excited to have the players here just like the kids who are excited to see foreign players inspire and give them a professional touch. As a country we expect this partnership to create a big impact and we hope this will give us a push and an impetus to do what we have been doing with the children even better," Masaba noted.

The five who were led by Alessandro Spigno include Coach Maurizio Latelli and professional players; Elisa Cella, Fabiola Facchinetti and Tereza ‘Terry' Rossi Matuszkova. They were received at the airport by Masaba and Professor Marco Lanzetta from CoRSU.

The group immediately swung into action hours after arrival and took a group of excited girls at the SOS Village in Entebbe through drills that will continue up to Thursday.

"The idea is to have this volleyball and surgical camp every year with the purpose of helping the local community medically and also through sport, so that we can make it a successful story," Lanzetta said.

"This is our first time in Uganda and we are excited to be here. We hope we can lighten up your passion for the game, even more; and we would wish to come here every year and help people improve their volleyball and leave them with something to remember," Latelli said.

Kampala Amateur Volleyball Club in conjunction with CoRSU Hospital is playing host to the Italian team who will be running a short volleyball Camp for girls between the ages of 14 and 18 at SOS Children's Village Entebbe from June 12-14.

Elisa Cella (2nd L), Tereza ‘Terry' Rossi Matuszkova (R) and Fabiola Facchinetti upon arrival at Entebbe Airport where they were met by former KAVC president Mohfat Masaba (") and Prof. Marco Lanzetta (C) on arrival in the country. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

The Italian volleyball crew is accompanying a team of Italian Surgeons who are set to carry out various operations at the Kisubi based CoRSU hospital. This effort at the hospital is supported by the Italian Professional Women's Volleyball League.

KAVC is a 47-year-old voluntary sporting organization championing better community health and behaviour through sports. KAVC senior men are record five time Uganda league champions while the ladies have three cups to their name.

The club fields two women and three men's teams in the National League and runs a special project codenamed "Talent Camp" for grassroots volleyball every year.