Uganda Volleyball Federation President, Hadija Namanda will be contesting for a leadership position at the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB).

Namanda will join two other colleagues in volleyball administration; Agnes Nakonga from Zambia and Mpho Palime from Lesotho for the position of Gender in Minority.

This will at the 2020 elective CAVB Congress that will be held on 24th and 25th October.

The congress will be unprecedented since it will be held online through a video conference for the first time due to the Corona Virus pandemic.

Namanda told insidevolleyball.news in an exclusive interview;

"I want to help our different countries by being able to voice my concerns on African Volleyball at a Board level, especially for Countries in Uganda’s Caliber were funding is low and equipment are very expensive,” said Namanda.

“I like mentoring and inspiring women to get involved into sports and Sports Administration and also stay longer," Namanda added.

To the women in Volleyball and sports at large, Namanda has led and served volleyball by example.

She was the first woman in Uganda and second in Africa to rise to the position of head (President) of a volleyball federation and position she ascended to in January, 2107 after defeating two men; Joseph Odong a former UVF Treasurer and Eddie Okila, a former UVF Technical Director.

Namanda has also served the game as a player; a coach, at FIVB Level II and a referee. She was the first Female FIVB International Volleyball referee in Uganda and Sub Saharan Africa to officiate at both Women’s and Men’s’ Continental Club Championships, Continental World Cup Qualifiers and the Continental Women Olympic Qualifiers.

She also served as Member of the Uganda Olympics Committee, Women in Sport Commission between 2013 and 2016.

Meanwhile, Congress will also fix other elective positions but all eyes will be on the position of President where incumbent, Dr. Amr M. Elwani will face it off with Mrs Bouchra Hajij.

Dr. Elwani, 74 years of age has been at CAVB since 1998 and at the helm of volleyball in Africa since 2001. Before that, he was President of Zone V in 1996 while his challenger has been a member of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of the African Volleyball Confederation.

If elected, Elwani will be president of CAVB for the 6th term and will serve until 2024.By that time, he will be making 24 years; servicing in the top most position of volleyball in Africa.

Volleyball stakeholders and lovers can follow the Congress page through; https://www.cavb.org/2020-cavb-congress/

Story by Saddam Segawa.