Team Uganda Set For 2022 World Lacrosse Men’s U21 World Championship

By Our Reporter

Uganda will participate and compete at the 2022 World Lacrosse Men’s U21 World Championship which will take place from 10 – 20 August 2022 at the University of Limerick in Limerick, Ireland.

The team was flagged off on Friday by National Council of Sports (NCS). The exercise took place at Cooper Chimney Restaurant in Lugogo, Kampala.

Uganda’s traveling contingent has 25 members comprising of 19 players and six officials.

General Manager of Team Uganda Jeremy Phillips said that the side is in good shape and will put up a good show at the games.

“I’m honored to be part of this team. I believe they will do well at the championship,” Phillips said adding that; “this is the second generation of lacrosse players in Uganda, the first generation are now administrators. It’s good to see the game grow here.”

George Ogik who’s the Captain for Uganda is confident that the team will put up good competition against other sides.

“First of all this is a dream come true for me and everyone in the team. It really feels good to go and represent our country at the tournament,” Ogik said adding that they will play their hearts out.

James Kasumba represented NCS at the flag off. The NCS Administrator urged players to keep focused, believe in themselves, work as a team and always stay motivated.

Uganda Lacrosse Association President Ken Kasule was part of the flag off ceremony. He was flanked by his executive members and other technical officials of the game.

A record 23 teams will compete in the Championship and it will be the largest ever age group World Championship staged by World Lacrosse.

Uganda will join other 22 teams at the Championship, that is; East African neighbors Kenya, hosts Ireland, Hong Kong, China, USA, Canada, Australia, Israel, China, Czech Republic, England, Germany, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Chinese Taipei, Wales and Haudengsaunee.

Originally an U19 World Championship, the World Lacrosse membership in 2020 approved a change in the upper age of eligibility, raising the event to U20. Due to postponement brought about by the global pandemic, the upper age of eligibility for the men’s age group World Championship is being raised on a one-time basis to U21 for 2022.

The Men’s Under-19 World  Championships commenced in 1988 with Australia, the USA, Japan and Canada playing host. The championship tournament runs every four years. The USA has won all seven previous championships, but with two losses in the tournament in 2012 held in Turku, Finland, during the round-robin stage, signs of increased parity were showing. ​