Nammanda out of Beach Volleyball Championship

By Swalley Kenyi

One of Uganda’s top beach volleyballers, Josephine Nammanda has withdrawn from the 9th edition of the Castle Lite International Beach Volleyball Championship.

Uganda Volleyball Federation (UVF) beach commission had named Nammanda and Diana Agaba among the eight women’s teams for the championship slated for Saturday and Sunday at Lido beach Entebbe.

But Nsubuga said that his ambition to ensure they win both the men and women titles this year has hit a snag because his wife is too tired to play.

“I’m talking to her (Nammanda) to play this weekend but she is reluctant. We (husband and wife) would have wished to launch another hunt to win both trophies this year unfortunately Jose (the wife) will not compete. She has chosen to rest after a hectic season,” Nsubuga told the New Vision.

Nammanda and her husband Nsubuga, who affectionately normally turn into coaches for each other at beach, missed claiming both the men and women trophies at the 2013 championship.

While Nsubuga won the men’s title, Nammanda and Agaba lost in the women’s final to the Kenyan pair of Edinah Rotich/Juma Yelena in straight sets to settle for the silver medal.

The pairs of James Kwenegura/Derrick Nuwagaba and Claytone Imbayi /Stephen Oguti are among the new names chairman of the beach commission Mofaht Masaba has included on the nine teams Uganda has lined up for the annual championship. Other first timers include Jacob Olila and Nabbito Joanita/Zaina Kagoya.

They are expected to challenge foreign teams from Burundi, Kenya and Rwanda while Tanzania is yet to communicate their position.

Ugandan top seeds Dickens Otim paired with regular partner Ambrose Okello, who have won the title twice before are expected to boost the men’s squad while high flying Sharon Pajije and Irene Adeke will enhance the women in the two day event.

The squad
Men
N. Dheyongera/E. Kato
E. Isiagi/K. Malinga
E. Rugaba/A. Ainebyona
E. Elanyu/J. Okurut
J. Kawenyera/J. Olila
J. Kwenegura/D. Nuwagaba
C. Imbayi /S. Oguti 
A. Okello/D. Otim  
I. Omedo/H. Nsubugua
Women
S. Pajije/I. Adeke
H. Nakalema/M. Tabitha
G. Nantege/A. Okecho
V. Adeke/S. Makongoro
P.Busingye/C. Alupo
E. Amuron/S. Buyungo
H. Namazzi/M. Nanfuka
J. Nabbito/Z. Kagoya