St. Mary’s Kitende retain USSSA Kitende Zone Netball crown, eyes set on Wakiso District challenge

By Emmanuel Sekago

St. Mary’s Secondary School Kitende once again demonstrated why they remain one of Uganda’s leading forces in school netball after successfully defending the USSSA Kitende Zone Ball Games II Netball title with a convincing 26-18 victory over Kajjansi Progressive School in the final played at Christ the King Secondary School.

The reigning champions produced a composed and disciplined performance to overcome a determined Kajjansi Progressive side and retain the coveted zonal trophy.

The triumph further underlines the school’s rich tradition in netball, a sporting discipline that has greatly contributed to establishing St. Mary’s Kitende as one of the country’s most successful sports institutions.

Throughout the tournament, St. Mary’s Kitende displayed excellent teamwork, tactical discipline and consistency, qualities that have enabled the school to dominate netball competitions at district, national and regional levels over the years.

Kajjansi Progressive put up a spirited fight and remained competitive for large spells of the final, but the experience and quality of the defending champions eventually proved decisive as Kitende pulled away to secure an eight-goal victory and successfully defend their crown.

The latest triumph adds another chapter to the school’s impressive netball legacy as preparations begin for even bigger assignments ahead.

Speaking to Wallnetnews Digital after the victory, St. Mary’s Kitende head coach Norideen Kato praised his players for their determination and commitment throughout the competition.

“We are happy with the performance of the girls. They showed great character, discipline and teamwork throughout the tournament. Winning the Kitende Zone title again is a reflection of the hard work the players have put in during training. However, this is only one step because we know the competition gets tougher from here,” Kato said.

The experienced tactician noted that attention has now shifted to the upcoming USSSA Wakiso District Ball Games II Netball Championship, where the school will be aiming to continue its winning momentum.

“We respect every team that will compete at the district level because Wakiso has some of the strongest netball schools in the country. Our focus now is recovery, improving on a few areas and preparing the girls mentally and physically for the next challenge. We want to qualify and continue competing for bigger honors,” he added.

Attention now turns to the USSSA Wakiso District Ball Games II Netball Championship, which will be hosted by the USSSA Mwerere Zone.

The tournament is expected to attract some of the strongest schools from across Wakiso District, setting the stage for highly competitive encounters as team’s battle for qualification to the next stage.

For St. Mary’s Kitende, the mission remains clear: successfully navigate the district championship and maintain their pursuit of regional and national glory.

With a talented squad, an experienced technical team and a winning culture deeply rooted within the institution, the defending Kitende Zone champions will undoubtedly enter the Wakiso District championships among the favourites for the title.

As the road to the national championships gathers momentum, all eyes will be on St. Mary’s Kitende to see whether they can maintain their impressive form and continue their journey toward another successful netball season.