Date: 20th August 2023
Venue: Huye, Rwanda
The grand stage of the Federation Of East African Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) Championship 2023 was set yesterday at Huye Stadium, marked by a vibrant opening ceremony graced by Rwanda’s Minister of Education, Dr. Wamariya Valentino.
The Ugandan teams commenced their championship journey today, and defending champions St. Noah Girls demonstrated their prowess with a resounding victory over Tanzania’s Ziba.
In an early kickoff clash at the University of Rwanda playground, the action unfolded with Sarah Babirye striking first for St. Noah Girls, capitalizing on a rebound in the 22nd minute to push the Zana team into the lead at halftime.
However, Ziba managed to level the playing field at the beginning of the second half. The tide turned again when Sylvia Kabene restored the lead for St. Noah Girls, tapping in a well-placed pass from Imelda Kasemire in the 65th minute.
Assistant Coach Abubaker Yunus attributed the win to the team’s unity and spirit but acknowledged the need for improvement.
“We have played our first game, and we’re grateful for the win. Despite facing challenges, especially with the pitch, we consider every game as a final as we work towards defending our title,” Coach Abubaker remarked after the match.
Goal Scorer Sarah Babirye expressed gratitude for the victory and outlined the team’s determination to learn from their mistakes and achieve even better results in the upcoming games.
“We’re thankful for winning our first game. Our focus is to correct our errors in the next matches and deliver stronger outcomes. Our primary aim is to secure the top spot in the group, and everything else will follow suit,” Sarah Babirye stated.
St. Noah Girls shares the same group with Kawempe Muslim SS, who secured a decisive 3-1 victory against Butera Girls from Kenya. Allen Nassazi, Hadijah Babirye, and Phiona Nabulime scored the winning goals for Kawempe Muslim SS.
In other match results, Amus College, the Ugandan champions, clinched a 1-0 victory over Apaer Girls SS through Opisa Shayne’s halftime strike.
However, Sacred Heart Secondary School faced an opening defeat against Tanzania’s formidable Fountain Gates SS, who secured a narrow 1-0 win.
Results
- St Noah 2-1 Ziba
- Kawempe Muslim 3-1 Butera Ss
- Amus 1-0 Apaer
- Sacred Heart Secondary School 0-1 Fountain Gates Ss
The stage is set for more gripping clashes as the championship unfolds, promising more sensational goals, strategic gameplay, and exhilarating moments for both players and fans alike.