Otim's net defence late in Game One through to Game Two earned him a starting place in the team ahead of Emmanuel Okia for the decider.
When Dickens Otim crossed from Nkumba Navy to Sport-S in 2014, he did not imagine it would take him close to ten years without laying hands on the National Volleyball League title.
He had been part of the Nkumba side that won the league in 2011, his first, and expected to continue with that trend upon joining Sport-S, a team that had already won four championships.
But he has had to wait until 2023 to guide his side to the title that has been elusive for various reasons throughout his stay at the club.
“It is a great feeling, being the only trophy we have been hunting for long,” Otim told Pulse Sports after the team’s 3-0 walloping of UCU Doves on Sunday.
Sport-S had to come from behind to take the series. A 3-2 blip in Game One set up a fascinating duel in the last two games, but Benon Mugisha’s side came out on top.
20:02 - 07.05.2023
VOLLEYBALL Sport-S defeat UCU Doves to win first league title in 14 years
Saturday’s 3-1 win to level the series handed Sport-S the momentum and quite clearly deflated UCU going into Sunday's decider.
Otim has been part of strong Sport-S sides that struggled to turn regular season dominance into titles but played a huge role in getting the team over the line when the stakes were his in the finals.
His net defence late in Game One through to Game Two earned him a starting place in the team ahead of Emmanuel Okia for the decider.
The middle blocker believes the team should have lifted the title much earlier, but for issues beyond their control, the drought lasted nine years.
“We have played many playoffs, of which some we lost genuinely and some we lost on controversies like officiation calls, but we moved on,” the former Volleyball Cranes captain revealed.
In 2019, Sport-S refused to turn up for the decisive Game Three of the finals against Nemostars and accused referees of conspiring to fail them.
But there was no stopping Sport-S this year. The addition of Samuel Engwau and Emmanuel Okia in the middle, and the promotion of Augustine Odongo into the senior team, gave the team the required brute in attack and solid defence.
Otim’s services were required in crunch time, and he delivered the goods to help the side to their fifth league title.
The club also won the National Club Championship last September, and Sunday’s victory confirmed the double.
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