BY JUMA ALI
The Uganda Under 20 Kabadi team has been flagged off today, Friday, 24th February 2023 at National Council of Sports headquarters Lugogo by senior administrator Mr. Ivan Mugoowa who represented the Council general secretary, Dr. Patrick Bernard Ogwel.
In their second attempt in the Junior Kabaddi World Championship, team Uganda is aiming at performing better in the second edition of the championship that will be held in Iran from February 28 to March 5 2023.
Mugoowa asked the team to represent the nation and continent well because the government is at their back to see that Uganda’s flag is on top.
Mulayira Douglas, the team’s captain told this msnews that they had enough training and preparations, and he has promised Ugandans that his team is going to finish the job well, since they do also have experience not like it was on their first attempt in 2019.
“This is our second time in this Championship, last time in this Championship, we finished 6th but most of our players were very young and inexperienced. This time we have experience, in between now and then, we have featured in a number of Leagues both in Uganda and abroad which gave us experience and confidence, so we promise Ugandans that we are going to do a clean job in Iran.” Says Mulayira Douglas, the team captain.
In the same line, the team’s assistant Coach, Makubuya Ephraim asserted that the team is in good condition and they have been in camp for three weeks.
“We have been in camp for three weeks, we’re in good condition. We expect to perform better, we were there in 2019 and finished 6th out of the 14 nations. This time they are going to be 16 nations.
The advantage we have, we are taking almost the same team like we had in 2019 because by then they were in 15 and 16 years, meaning even now they Quality to play in the tournament. They have enough experience because they are going there for the second time.” Coach said.
The six days tournament that will be held at Urmia, Western Iran, has attracted 16 nations and only two come from Africa, that’s Uganda and Kenya who were the finalists in the 1st Edition.
The 16 teams in the second edition:
Iran (hosts), Uganda, Iraq, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Georgia, Chinese Taipei, Kenya and Bangladesh.
Uganda’s traveling contingent:
Players:
Mulalira Douglas (Capt), Katamba Shafick, Kibuule James, Lubega Reagan, Kigozi Nasif, Mubarak Wandeka, Lubwama Timothy, Mutebi Simon, Ssemwanga Henry, Ssekamatte Rahim, Ngabirano Innocent, Lutaaya Joshua.
Technical team:
Nsibambi John (head coach)
Makubuya Ephraim (assistant Coach)
Lubuulwa Fahad (referee)
Mujuni Edgar (team manager).
