Kitende, Kawempe bag gold, Win $100,000 at CECAFA Zone CAF Africa schools Qualifiers

By Emmanuel Sekago

Uganda’s St Marys secondary school -Kitende and Kawempe Muslim senior secondary school are the champions of the boys and girls’ respective categories in the 2023 CECAFA Zone CAF Pan Africa schools football competition in Nairobi, Kenya.

St Marys -Kitende overcame Tanzania in post-match penalties during the boy’s final played at the Kasarani annex stadium today December, 13th 2023.

Normal time had ended in a one all draw stalemate, but the Wakiso based school -Kitende scored 4-2 via post match penalties to defeat Tanzania, yet in group game they beat them 1-0.

It should be noted that St. Mary’s Secondary School Kitende (SMASK)  rounded off a near-perfect CECAFA Zonal CAF African Schools qualifiers in style, winning the championship.

Prior to the final against the Tanzanians, Kitende had finished top of the table with  fifteen (15) points in five games played in the group.

They beat  Somalia, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda  to lead the table before setting up a final with the latter.
Kitende  ended the tournament unbeaten, as they scored 12 goals and conceded just three.

During the flag-off the team, St. Mary’s Secondary School, Kitende  proprietor Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa was in buoyant mood flanked by deputy executive Director Claire Mulindwa  as the U15s jetted out to Kenya for the 2023 CECAFA Zonal CAF Schools Championship.

“We are going to the tournament; you know what is required? We have about 13 Nations in the CECAFA; we have to work hard, no shortcuts, so you must be a champion to qualify,” he said before the team flew out on Friday.

“With the preparation that has been given, just believe that you can and yes, we can, you know what it means; in St Mary’s, we go for trophies, not just to participate. We’re competitors, and I believe you can.”he added.

In the girls’ category, another Uganda representative, Kawempe Muslim senior secondary school the Ayub khalifan girls, one of the most respected coaches in girls football  also clinched the Zonal championship after edging Kenya 2-1 earlier in the day.

Goals from Shadiah Nabirye and Butini Sharua were enough for Kawempe to silence the neighbours Kenya to walk away with USD 100,000 and gold medal at  the CAF African Schools Championship.

Both St Mary’s secondary school -Kitende and Kawempe senior secondary school have gone into the history as the first schools in cecafa zone from one country who will represent the region at the continental showdown slated for April  2024.

Last year, The Mityana based school Royal Giants High School clinched the CECAFA title in boys category while the Bukedea based school Amus College school finished third at the cecafa zonal qualifiers held in Dar as salaam, Tanzania in 2022.