Nemostars handed Elyon their first defeat of the season, sweeping them 3-0 with scores of 25-19, 25-22, and 25-19 on Sunday at the MTN Arena Lugogo.
The loss came as a shock for Elyon, who had entered the game with a perfect record of four wins, and sat second on the National Volleyball League Serie A Men’s table with 12 points.
The match took a pivotal turn when Elyon’s star player Silver Owinjo suffered a serious leg injury, resulting in a fractured bone.
This unfortunate incident significantly impacted Elyon’s performance, as they struggled to regain their footing, resulting to their first loss.
Speaking to NBS Sport after the game, Elyon captain Kisomose Dennis expressed that they expected a win coming into the game, but were greatly affected when Owinjo got injured.
“Our expections were to get a win or a decisive with Nemo, but our main player was badly injured along the way.” Kisomose said.
Elyon head coach Joshua Osia echoed Kisomose’s sentiments, adding that the injury greatly affected his players’ morale.
“We anticipated a victory, but losing a crucial player changed the dynamics of the game, and it took a toll on the team’s morale,” he said.
According to the club, initial medical assessments reveal that Owinjo sustained a small bone crack without any torn ligaments, but he will require time to recover.
Despite the setback, Captain Kisomose remains hopeful in the coach and the team, “I trust our coach will regroup the team and prepare us for the challenges ahead. We will train harder and come back stronger.”
On the other side, Nemostars captain George Aporu celebrated his team’s victory while acknowledging the unfortunate circumstances for Elyon.
“Today’s match went in our favour with a solid 3-0 win, but it’s unfortunate for our opponents to lose such a key player. His injury made it easier for us to capitalize on their weakened state.”
Aporu also took pride in ending Elyon’s unbeaten streak, remarking, “They were unbeaten, and we came in and disrupted that run. It’s a significant achievement for us.”
Looking ahead, he emphasized the importance of maintaining their momentum: “We aim to keep this winning streak alive and finish the league on a high.”
