Nemostars set for historic ninth African charge | 47th CAVB Men’s ACC
The year was 2013. Nemostars, fresh off their maiden 2012 league title, stepped onto the continental stage for the first time. They were the new kids on the block, battling not just elite opposition, but the overwhelming first-time jitters that come with representing a nation. They finished 11th, a respectable debut but for veteran setter […] The post Nemostars set for historic ninth African charge | 47th CAVB Men’s ACC appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
Black News 
The year was 2013. Nemostars, fresh off their maiden 2012 league title, stepped onto the continental stage for the first time. They were the new kids on the block, battling not just elite opposition, but the overwhelming first-time jitters that come with representing a nation.
They finished 11th, a respectable debut but for veteran setter Smith Okumu, that tournament was merely the prologue to a decade-long odyssey.
As the 47th CAVB Men’s Club Championship descends upon Rwanda, Nemostars are no longer wide-eyed debutants. They are battle-hardened veterans preparing for their ninth appearance in Africa’s most prestigious club competition.
Reflecting on the journey from that nervous 2013 squad to the current roster, Okumu notes that the gap between the East African giants and the rest of the continent has never been smaller.
“First times are not always very easy,” Okumu admits. “It was tough, but I remember we had a decent show finishing 11th. We could have done better, but the first-time jitters disturbed us.”
Today, the narrative has shifted from participation to parity. According to Okumu, the years of facing Africa’s powerhouses have stripped away the element of fear.
“Facing good sides gives you the confidence not to fear them again,” says Okumu. “Right now, we go into games and anyone can win. Actually, they are not far from us.”
The 47th edition of the championship carries extra weight. For the first time in the tournament’s storied history, the event is being hosted in East Africa. With APR playing host, Nemostars will enjoy a sense of regional home turf advantage that has been absent in previous years.
For the Ugandan champions, this isn’t just another tournament; it’s a litmus test for how far they’ve come since that 11th-place finish thirteen years ago.
As the team prepares to fly the Ugandan flag in Kigali, the objective is clear to leverage a decade of lessons to break into the final four.
With a setter like Okumu pulling the strings, a man who has seen the program grow from league newcomers to continental mainstays, the jitters are a thing of the past.
“It’s going to be a very good experience for everyone,” Okumu concludes. But this time, Nemostars aren’t just looking for experience. They’re looking for a position closer to the podium.
The post Nemostars set for historic ninth African charge | 47th CAVB Men’s ACC appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
