All African Games 2023 |By Jude Atwiine (Photo by FUFA Media)
The Uganda Hippos continued with their impressive start into the 13th All Africa Games-Accra 2023. The lads showed up with another fine display against the young lions of Teranga to ensure they collected maximum points on the night.
The under-20 men’s National team had to wait until the twenty-sixth minute when Usama Arafat was brought down in the forbidden area which earned them a penalty. Allan Oyirwoth was lucky to hit the rebound after his initial shot was saved by the Senegal goalkeeper.
The Senegalese responded by piling a lot of pressure on the Ugandan wall marshaled by Captain captain Torach Rogers. Royal Giants High School goalkeeper Shamulan Kamya was forced into making a very fine save from a Senegal free kick in the dying minutes of the first stanza.
The Hippos managed to keep the Senegalese at bay for the rest of the match, they now top the group and have already made it to the semi-finals.
In a game won by simply fine margins, the USSSA PRODUCTS continued to shine.
Allan Oyirwoth (previously a student at Amus College School) made his second successive start in the championship. He is well known for his goal-scoring prowess from the USSSA National Boys Championship- 2023, to the FEASSA games in Huye Rwanda, and at the ISF Football championship in Morocco. He had his strike from the penalty spot initially saved but was lucky to make amends with a rebound. His goal proved to be a winner for coach Morley Byekwaso’s side
Shamulan Kamya a student at Royal Giants High School getting his first start at the games replacing Abdu Magada who sustained an injury. Kamya showed no nerves as he was forced into making a very fine save in the dying minutes of halftime. A simple touch on the ball parried the ball onto the crossbar bar keeping Uganda in the lead hence preserving his clean sheet.
Hakim Mutebi, a student at St. Mary’s Boarding School kitende made his second cameo for the hippos at the full hour mark replacing Kakande Patrick Jonah. Hakim provided the team with freshness and a different sense of control on the game.
Other players involved on the matchday besides their schools.
- Rogers Torach – captain fantastic from St. Mary’s Boarding School Kitende
- Ronald Madoi – a former student at St. Mary’s Boarding School Kitende
- Ivan Irinimbabazi – a former student at Royal Giant High School
- Kakande Jonah Patrick – a former student at Uganda Martyrs High School-Lubaga
- Enock Luyima- ( unused substitute) St. Mary’s Boarding School Kitende
- John Innocent Kisolo – St. Henry’s College Kitovu
The Hippos are off to a flying start in the championship and will look to go one better than they did in the AFCON finals in 2020.
Meanwhile, the Queen Cranes will be in action in Cape Coast for their second game.