Uganda boys’ Basketball team returns home from ISF tournament with heads high.
Uganda’s male representatives at the 2024 ISF basketball championship in Macau city, China safely returned home on the evening of Friday, 5th July at Entebbe International airport aboard Ethiopian Airlines.
The boys’ team, represented by Elite High School, Entebbe was officially welcomed by the vice president of Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Hajji Twahil Kitezeela.
“Today, we have welcomed the last batch of basketball teams from China from the ISF competition. They gave their best effort, winning five out of the seven matches played. The lessons are taken and we shall improve. As USSSA, it has been great representation in international tournaments ranging from Volleyball in Serbia, Football and Basketball in China, Athletics in Kenya to CAF football in Zanzibar. We thank the Government of Uganda for the financial support, schools, parents, teachers, players and the media at large. We look forward the USSSA Ball Games Two in Soroti (Teso College Aloet) which are qualifiers for the 2024 FEASSSA Games at Amus College School and Bukedea Comprehensive School” Hajji Kitezeela.
The team won four matches and lost twice, with one walk over victory to finish 11th overall out of the 20 teams in competition.Uganda beat Brazil (45-41), Chille 2 (78-31), China II (66-43) and Czech Republic (80-44) before falling to Mongolia (51-50) and Serbia (60-58).The would be last classification duel against Mongolia was not honoured after the Asian country had already left and thus a walk over for the Uganda.
Daniel Latigo, the games master at the school specially appreciated the management of Elite High School Entebbe, USSSA and the Government for the support to see the participate in this global championship.”Elite High School Bwebajja traveled to China for the ISF Basketball championship and we thank the school management, USSSA plus the Government of Uganda for making it happen. I salute the players, coaches and parents for the support and team effort. We picked important lessons from this championship especially the facilities we played on. The school management is convinced to make such an arena like the one who used in Macau, China” Latigo told the USSSA media at Entebbe International Airport.
The school captain Matthew Kisakye expressed delight upon competing with the world’s best in the same age bracket, a stepping stone towards improving their skills in the game.“We are humbled by the opportunity to play at the ISF Basketball tournament in Macao, China. We faced some of the best Basketball players within our age and this made us to better competitors. We learnt a lot from these players which will definitely improve our game. Winning five of the seven matches was fair. We look forward more exposure at such tournaments” Kisakye hinted.
Meanwhile, the girl’s team won twice against India and Cyprus before bowing out in three games to finish 12th overall.The next set of games domestically is the 2024 USSSA Ball Games II at Teso College Aloet (9th to 17th July). These are qualifier games for team Uganda at the 2024 FEASSSA Games that will be co-hosted by Bukedea Comprehensive School and Amus College in August.
Elite High School Bwebajja performance:
• Uganda (Elite High School Bwebajja) 45-41 Brazil
•Uganda (Elite High School Bwebajja) 50-51 Mongolia
• Serbia 60-58 Uganda (Elite High School Bwebajja)
• Uganda (Elite High School Bwebajja) 78-31 Chille 2
• China II 66-43 Uganda (Elite High School Bwebajja)
• Uganda (Elite High School Bwebajja) 80-44 Czech Republic