UVF, clubs resolve differences to resume league

Uganda Volleyball Federation (UVF) and its premier clubs have agreed to resume the entire league series including the top tier (Serie A) that was suspended towards end of last season.

The 2017 league is set to start later this month.

This was in a reconciliation meeting on Saturday between UVF led by new president Hadija Namanda and her first vice president Isma Bagala, volleyball referees chairman Innocent Komakech and chairman sports organizing committee Deo Nsereko at NCS offices in Lugogo.

Sport-S VC representative at the meeting Waren Muhangi, who was among managers who revolted against the previous UVF administration, leading to the suspension of Serie A league, said that clubs agreed to reconcile with UVF because the current administration is friendly to them.

"We [clubs] have agreed to forget the past and work together because this leadership [of Namanda] is friendly. They are willing to listen to our [clubs'] side and provide a common solution," Muhangi, who is also the biggest stakeholder in Sport-S, told New Vision after the meeting that lasted over three hours.

They agreed to impose a sh200,000 fine for Serie A and women volleyball teams and sh100,000 for Serie B and C clubs payable before honouring their next fixtures as a common way to manage their walkover rule of the league.

The rule saw the federation dismiss a number of clubs which boycotted three consecutive league fixtures before suspending the Serie A league last season.

The clubs were protesting UVF's decision to allow KAVC field Daudi Okello who they argued was a player of INATEK in Rwanda, in the National Volleyball Club Championships in Nkumba last year.

Clubs that attended the reconciliation meeting also included KAVC, Nemostars, VVC, UCU, KCCA, Cobap, Prisons and Police among others.