Rays of Grace, Bombo UMEA, Nakirebe Present Mugisha FEASSSA Trophies

By Our Reporter 

It was joy at the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Associations (USSSA) head office in Mengo,  on Thursday when  Bombo UMEA, Nakirebe  and Rays of Grace  schools that represented Uganda at the just concluded Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association’s (FEASSSA) games in Arusha, Tanzania presented their trophies to USSSA President Mugisha.

Uganda won football both in the boys’ and girls’ categories with Rays of Grace and Bombo UMEA winning gold respectively while Nakirebe won the netball title taking it for keeps.

The Uganda gold medalists yesterday presented their respective trophies to Justus Mugisha who is the president of USSSA and FEASSSA in company with Mugisha Christopher Banage the chief executive of the association.

Mugisha the USSSA and FEASSSA president who was full of smiles applauded the schools for the discipline they exhibited and winning gold for Uganda at East Africa games.

  “I wish to thank all the schools that represented Uganda in primary categories at the 2022 FEASSSA Games in Arusha, Tanzania. You did us well to win gold medals and qualify automatically to the next U-15 World football games. We shall continue supporting you in all the necessary logistics and also thank FUFA for their help,” said Mugisha.

In the same way, Mugisha Banage the USSSA Chief Executive Officer (CEO)  thanked the gesture of the visit, thanking  the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) for the sponsorship made to Uganda’s four ambassadors.

 “Thanks to FUFA for investing in youth football by sponsoring the teams to Arusha with transport. In future, all the primary teams will be given a special arrangement. We also intend to increase the number of disciplines and teams that represent the different countries, come 2023 the U-15 championship in Brazil will involve both secondary and primary schools,” said Banage.

 “To the pupils, please work hard and remain disciplined. Also, give keen priority to your education because it goes hand in hand with the sports” he added.

The Director of Rays of Grace and the chairperson of Uganda Youth Football Association (UYFA) Roberts Kiwanuka, appreciated the offer presented to the four Ugandan teams to play at the 2022 FEASSSA Games.

 “It was a great honor to have represented Uganda at the FEASSSA Games in the football category. We would like to say thank you. There has been a high level of exchange opportunities in terms of culture, teacher- student’s relationship and the opportunity to visit the headquarters of the East African Community,” said Kiwanuka.

Bombo UMEA’s Edward Lugolobi was humbled for the “step-in right direction initiative” by USSSA and FEASSSA to develop girls’ football in the region right from the grass-roots.

 “We learnt a lot from the 2022 FEASSSA Games in Arusha, Tanzania. We returned with great experience earned and a lot of exposure to our young girls. I thank the players, FUFA, USSSA, the media officers that we traveled with not forgetting the Uganda medical team of only doctors did a good job in seeing every athlete as well. The feeding was excellent and we are grateful that we did not get any child that fell sick. We ask USSSA that if there is any opportunity to further progress, you do not leave us behind,” Lugolobi appealed.

Meanwhile, Uganda successfully defended the  overall title collecting a total of 18 gold, 10 silver and 13 bronze medals followed by Kenya with 5 gold, 12 silver and 3 bronze,  Rwanda  with two 2 gold 2 silver and  4 bronze as the hosts Tanzania managed  with only 1 silver and 5 bronze.