EADB Injects $90000 into FEASSA Games as Uganda eyes Regional success
David GOMBE
The 23rd edition of the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games has received a major boost with an injection of USD 90,000 from the East African Development Bank (EADB).
The tournament, currently underway in Morogoro, Tanzania, has attracted 413 teams and 5,548 participants from across East Africa competing in 51 sporting disciplines, making it one of the largest school sports events on the continent.
Speaking during the official opening ceremony of the games, EADB Country Manager, Mr. Stephen Wambura, said the FEASSA tournamentis an apt platform for the Bank to invest in the development of East Africa’s young sporting talent as part of the bank’s mission to contribute to sustainable developmentprograms that create a lasting positive impact for the region.
“While our core mandate is financing development projects across key sectors of the economy, we recognize that sustainable development goes beyond infrastructure and enterprises. It also means investing in people, especially young people, who represent the future of our region. It is for this reason that EADB partnered with FEASSA as the title sponsor of the 23rd edition of the games and committed USD 90,000 towards the successful delivery of the tournament” said Mr. Wambura
“Sports sponsorship is one of the key pillars of our Corporate Social Initiatives(CSI) agenda because we understand the transformative power of sports in shaping character, promoting healthy lifestyles and unlocking opportunities for young people in our region. Through this sponsorship, we are investing not only in the competition, but in the development of the next generation of East African leaders” he added.
EADB’s sponsorship will support the production of medals and trophies for winning teams, as well as the provision of playing kits for participants competing in the finals.
Uganda has once again demonstrated its stature as a regional school sports powerhouse by fielding the largest contingent at the 23rd FEASSA Games, with 130 teams and 1,660 participants competing across the Secondary Schools, Primary Schools and Special Needs Education (SNE) categories.
In boys’ football, Uganda’s challenge is spearheaded by traditional giants St Mary’s Boarding School Kitende, Amus College School, Kyadondo Secondary School and defending champions Bukedea Comprehensive School, all of whom are expected to be strong contenders for regional honors
The girls’ football competition features another formidable Ugandan presence, led by Rines Secondary School, Amus College School, BoniConsili Girls Vocational and Secondary School and Jinja Progressive Academy (JIPRA), schools that have consistently performed strongly in national and regional competitions.
Uganda is also expected to mount a serious challenge in volleyball, a discipline in which the country has traditionally excelled. In the boys’ category, Bukedea Comprehensive School, Namugongo Vocational and Secondary School and St. Jerome Secondary School Ndama will lead the charge, while Seroma Christian High School and Katikamu SDA Secondary School are among the schools carrying Uganda’s hopes in the girls’ competition.
Basketball remains one of Uganda’s strongest disciplines, with schools such as St Michael High School, St Cyprian High School and Amus College Schoolcompeting in the boys’ 5×5 category. In the girls’ event, traditional powerhouses St Mary’s Kitende, Nabisunsa Girls School and St Noa Girls Secondary School Zzanawill be seeking to extend Uganda’s dominance on the regional stage.
The tournament, scheduled to conclude on August 22, is expected to deliver a fiercely contested battle for honours across all disciplines, with Team Uganda seeking not only individual medals and titles but also a strong overall performance