Uganda’s boys’ basketball team, representing Elite High School, Entebbe, has returned from the 2024 ISF basketball championship in Macau, China, with commendable performance and high spirits. They arrived on the evening of July 5th at Entebbe International Airport via Ethiopian Airlines.
Hajji Twahil Kitezeela, Vice President of the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA), warmly welcomed the team. He praised their efforts, noting, “The boys gave their best, winning five out of seven matches. We have learned valuable lessons and will continue to improve. We extend our gratitude to the Government of Uganda, schools, parents, teachers, players, and the media for their support.”
The team secured victories against Brazil (45-41), Chile 2 (78-31), China II (66-43), and the Czech Republic (80-44). They narrowly lost to Mongolia (51-50) and Serbia (60-58), and received a walkover victory against Mongolia, finishing 11th out of 20 teams.
Daniel Latigo, the games master at Elite High School, expressed his appreciation for the support from the school management, USSSA, and the government. “We are grateful for the opportunity to compete globally. The experience and lessons learned, especially regarding the facilities, are invaluable. The school is now considering developing similar arenas,” Latigo stated.
Team captain Matthew Kisakye shared his excitement about the tournament, highlighting the significant learning experience. “Competing against some of the best players in our age bracket has been invaluable. Winning five out of seven matches was a fair achievement, and we look forward to more such opportunities,” Kisakye said.
Meanwhile, the girls’ team won two matches against India and Cyprus but finished 12th overall after losing three games.
Looking ahead, the 2024 USSSA Ball Games II will be held at Teso College Aloet from July 9th to 17th, serving as qualifiers for the 2024 FEASSSA Games, which will be co-hosted by Bukedea Comprehensive School and Amus College in August.
