St. Noa Girls School shines bright at 21st FEASSA Games

By Emmanuel Sekago

If there’s any school that left the 21st edition of the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) games with immense pride and joy, it’s undoubtedly St. Noa Girls School. The games, which concluded on Monday, August 26th, 2024, at Bukedea Comprehensive School and Amus College School sports grounds, saw St. Noa Girls excel across multiple disciplines, marking an outstanding year in their sporting history.

The year 2024 has indeed been a remarkable one for St. Noa Girls, with their rigorous preparations yielding impressive results. In girls’ football, St. Noa claimed the gold medal, with Sylvia Kabeene’s goal in the 20th minute securing a 1-0 victory over Kenya’s national champions, Butere Girls, known as the Red Commandos. The final, played at the Bukedea Comprehensive Sports Complex, was a hard-fought battle, but St. Noa’s determination and skill saw them emerge victorious.

In basketball 5×5, St. Noa Girls dominated the court, cruising to a comfortable 60-40 victory over GS Marie Reine Rwaze from Rwanda in the final held at Amus College School courts, earning them another gold medal. However, in the basketball 3×3 final, they faced a tough challenge and narrowly missed out on the gold, losing to Butere Girls (Kenya) 15-17. Despite the loss, they proudly walked away with a silver medal.

St. Noa Girls also made their mark in netball, where they faced Buddo Secondary School in a nail-biting third-place playoff. In a closely contested match, St. Noa edged out Buddo with a 44-43 victory, securing the bronze medal.

St. Noa Girls’ impressive haul of two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze not only showcased their exceptional talent and preparation but also contributed significantly to Uganda winning the overall FEASSA trophy. It’s no surprise that the school is planning a thanksgiving event to celebrate these achievements—they truly deserve it after such a successful year in sports.

Harriet Apolot, the third vice president of USSSA, praised St. Noa Girls for their remarkable performance at the FEASSA games. In an interview with Wallnetnews, she emphasized the importance of early preparations as Uganda looks ahead to the next edition of the FEASSA games, which will be hosted by Kenya in Kakamega County.

“St. Noa Girls have set a high standard with their performances this year. It’s a clear indication of what dedication, teamwork, and proper preparation can achieve. As we look towards next year’s games in Kenya, it’s crucial that all our teams begin their preparations early. The competition will be fierce, especially on Kenyan soil, and we need to ensure that Uganda continues to excel,” Apolot stated.

St. Noa Girls School has proven to be a powerhouse in the 2024 FEASSA games, and their achievements have brought immense pride to Uganda. With the right focus and continued support, they, along with other Ugandan teams, can look forward to even greater success in the future.