National Team Tennis coach John Oduke feels his team will perform well in the ITF/CAT East African Junior Teams’ Competition for 14 & 16 years and under.

In the previous edition, Uganda only registered one podium finish after the 14 & under boys team finished third but all the sides seek a better show this term round.

With the events running from 7th January to 14th January 2023, Oduke believes the players will perform well.

“These are great players and I believe they will perform very well. Last time we had challenges in preparations but this time round we started preparing early and I believe the results will be good,” Oduke told media.

The Bujumbura regional event is a qualifier for the African Junior Championship for 14 and 16 & under (AJC) scheduled for later this year.

The singles will be run over four full days using the fed-in system, thus allowing the competition to progress as normal but ensuring that every player win or lose, plays a match every day.

The 14 & Under individual tournament will count as a Grade 2 Tournament for the ITF/CAT circuit of 2023.

Traveling Contingent

The Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) is set to host the FIBA Zone V Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers.

The event is scheduled for 14th-19th February 2023 at the MTN Arena in Lugogo.

These are the qualifiers for the 2023 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket that will be played in Kigali, Rwanda.

Uganda will be joined by other regional counterparts Egypt, Kenya, Rwanda (who could use the tournament to prepare their team), South Sudan, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Somalia for the week-long tournament.

The Gazelles are expected to start non-residential training in mid-January with the final 12 players to enter residential camp as the tournament nears.

Last year, Uganda hosted the U18 zonal qualifiers for Boys and Girls. The Junior Gazelles won the tournament and qualified for the final tournament in Madagascar where they finished fifth.

On another note, the senior Men’s side (Silverbacks) is also set to compete in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers due 20th-28th February in Luanda, Angola.

The Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) has confirmed the dates for the start of the 2023 National Basketball League season.

According to the calendar released by the federation, the top flight season will get underway on 10th March 2023, at a yet-to-be-confirmed venue – but most likely MTN Arena.

Meanwhile, the Lower Division Leagues will start the following day.

The registration of teams and players transfers will start on 1st February at FUBA offices in Lugogo while the league fixture will be released on 28th February.

The teams will have a chance to fine-tune for the new season at the annual UCU Invitational Tournament that is scheduled for 25th-26th February at the university’s main campus in Mukono.

The Second Round of the league will begin on 12th May and the playoffs will get underway in July before ending in September, per the FUBA Activity Calendar.

City Oilers beat Nam Blazers 4-3 in seven-game series finals to win their eighth league title in a row while UCU Lady Canons dethroned JKL Lady Dolphins coming from 3-1 down to win the series.

Melissa Akullu posted her fifth double-double of the season, finishing with a season-high 26 points and 12 rebounds as the Vanguard Lions rolled to a 73-61 win over Southeastern on Friday.

The 14th-ranked Lions emerged victorious in their lone game at the Westmont Holiday Classic. The tournament opener on Thursday against Health Sciences and Pharmacy was canceled due to the opponent’s travel issues.

The Ugandan forward posted her third 20-point game of the season and was 12-of-15 on the floor.

Lauren Baumgartner knocked down four three-pointers in adding 14 points to go along with five rebounds and two assists. Halle Si’i had a solid all-around game with 13 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

Airiana Madanski contributed nine points off the bench as she hit three triples.

The Lions committed a season-low seven turnovers and enjoyed a 36-24 advantage in points in the paint.

VU shot 45.6 (31-of-68) percent from the floor. Southeastern shot 46.2 (24-of-52) percent but took 16 less field goal attempts. The Lions had 14 offensive rebounds which helped lead to 12 second chance points.

Gabby Suarez and Kiki Britzmann had 21 and 19 points for the Fire, respectively. The duo shot a combined 15-of-20 from the field, while the rest of the team was just 9-of-32.

Vanguard improved to 9-3 on the season. Southeastern fell to 6-9.

Netball She Cranes have dropped from 6th to 7th in the World Netball (WN) Rankings following the SPAR Diamond Challenge and Nations Cup Singapore.

The top five teams in the WN Rankings, didn’t swap or lose any positions, Australia remaining 1st, New Zealand 2nd, England 3rd, Jamaica 4th^, and South Africa 5th. However, Uganda dropped, Malawi taking up her position of 6th.

Scotland and Zimbabwe remained 10^th and 13^th positions while Botswana, Fiji, Ireland, Malaysia and Singapore who all played in the Asia Nations Cup in Singapore improved.

In August 2014, Uganda were ranked 15th in the INF World Rankings. The team has qualified for three world cups since the 2015 edition when they defeated Zimbabwe, Zambia, Swaziland and Botswana.

They have already qualified automatically for the 2023 Netball World Cup which will be held from Friday, 28 July to Sunday, 6 August at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.

Wednesday Results

• Africa Renewal University 44-46 Ugx Luweero
• Weyonje Netball Club 60-00 Mutelx Life Sport (Walkover)
• Ugx Luweero 48-31 Posta Netball Club
• Police Netball Club 46-48 KCCA Netball Club
• Prisons Netball Club 50-54 NIC Netball Club

National Insurance Corporation (NIC) Netball Club returned to title contention with a very important victory against Prisons Netball Club in the last game of first round encounter honoured on Wednesday at Kamwokya Community Sports Center.

On Wednesday, NIC edged Prisons 54-50 to go second on the table, four points behind table leaders, KCCA Netball Club who have a 100% winning record this season.

Like any title contenders encounter, the NIC-Prisons game was one of the best encounters anyone needed to watch

The first quarter ended 14-12 in favour of NIC and at the break, NIC was leading by five goals (27-22).

Unlike the games against KCCA and Weyonje, NIC were so aggressive right from the first quarter. and only loosened up in the last quarter after developing a could pass for complacency.

It’s only in the last quarter that they scored less, 12 against the 16.

Prisons looked so down from the first quarter, making a number of errors, especially in the third quarter. The midcourt was below their usual best.

In other games, the table leaders, KCCA winded up the first round with a 100% record as they beat Police NC 48-46 and top the table with 22 points, four clear of second-placed NIC and Prisons who are in third position.

Luweero jumped out of the relegation zone with two wins registered on the last day of the first round. They beat Africa Renewal University 46-44 and were 48-31 winners against Posta.

Weyonje Netball Club got a walkover against Mutelx Life Sport who didn’t show up for the game.

Kampala Rockets are the champions of Division One after overcoming Rez Life Saints in a decisive game five on Sunday at YMCA in Wandegeya, Kampala.

In the semifinals, Kampala Rockets beat Nkumba Marines while Rez Life Saints beat Livingstone to reach the finals and book slots in the 2023 National Basketball League.

Rez Life twice came from down to level the finals series before the Rockets won game five 68-61 to claim a 3-2 best-of-five victory.

The Rockets trailed 25-33 at halftime and were down by 11 points going into the last quarter but Rez Life Saints only managed just 8 points in the fourth quarter against the Rockets’ 26 to seal a comeback.

Ola Simon scored a game-high 20 points while Peter Cheng had a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds and Kur Garang added 11 points for the Rockets.

Burhani Ngobi (16), Ivan Otyek (15), William Charles Saverino (12) and Thok Timothy (10) scored in double figures for the Saints.

It has been a strong season for the Rockets who finished second in the regular season behind Livingstone with a 21-7 record before knocking out UMU Flames in the Quarters.

Meanwhile, JT Lady Jaguars swept Kampala University Ladies 3-0 to clinch the Women Division One title and end the season unbeaten.

Netball Super League | Saturday Results

• UPDF Netball Club 60-00 Mutelx Life Sport (walkover for UPDF)
• UCU Netball Club 46-46 Africa Renewal University NC
• Police Netball Club 47-56 Makindye Weyonje Netball Club
• Prisons Netball Club 45-48 KCCA Netball Club

KCCA Netball Club continued their perfect run with a hard-fought victory against Prisons Netball Club in an epic encounter played at Kamwokya Community Sports Center on Saturday afternoon.

KCCA beat Prisons 48-45 to take their unbeaten run to 10 games.

Shadia Nassanga who had a slow start to the season was exceptional on the day and her shooting accuracy was the difference as she scored 32 of the 48 goals.

The win meant KCCA remained the only unbeaten side in the league this season since they subjected Prisons to their maiden loss.

The first quarter finished. all square at 10 goals apiece despite the fact that KCCA first had a four goals advantage before the end of quarter one.

KCCA never led at the end of any quarter until they turned the tables in the decisive quarter which is the last quarter. Quarter one ended 10-10, the second quarter ended 25-23, then 34-33 and the final quarter ended 45-48.

In order to slow down Christine Namulumba of Prisons who had a height advantage over KCCA defenders, coach Hassan Kato introduced Hanisha Muhammed and Shalila Shafic in the third quarter

Hanisha came in as the goalkeeper to match Namulumba’s height and Sharila at the centre reduced the number of balls going into KCCA’s scoring circle.

And it worked for them since in the last two quarters, Prisons scored few goals, 20 compared to 25 scored in the first two quarters.

Now KCCA has managed to beat all the title contenders that’s NIC, Weyonje, Prisons and UCU.

KCCA sit on top of the table with 20 points, followed by Prisons, 18 and NIC 16.

In other results, UPDF got a walkover since Mutelx Life Sport didn’t show up, UCU, Africa Renewal University played for a 46 up draw, the first draw of the season while Weyonje beat Police 56-47.

Kenya Day Golf Tourney 2022 (Professionals):

• Overall winner: Herman Deco Mutebi – 69
• T2 – Ashraf Bagalana – 70
• Deo Akope – 70

Professional golfer Herman Deco Mutebi failed to make the round one cut during the 2022 Uganda Professional Golf open at the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and spa.

It however safe to say hemay have been improving since making three subsequent cuts in Jinja (Kakira Open), Masindi (Kinyara Open), and lately Mbale (Eastern open).

The Entebbe-based professional golfer scored three under 69 (gross) to emerge as the best. He played a total of 37 on the front nine holes and 32 on the subsequent nine.

Mutebi played a total of four birdies (8, 12, 16, and 18), thirteen pars (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 17), and one bogie (7).

He was a stroke better than the duo of Ashraf Bagalana and the legendary Deo Akope. Phillip Kasozi scored 1-under 71 to finish fourth overall.

Marvin Kibirige, Ronald Rugumayo, Vincent Byamukama and Adolf Muhumuza were level par (72) to complete the top eight cluster that made the treasured cut to partake of the total Shs 6,000,000 kitty.

Missed the cut:

A couple of golfers sadly missed the cut line after the 18 holes action.

David Kamulindwa Amooti, James Koto, and Abby Bagalana (73 apiece), Silver Opio, Tadeo Gaita Rodell and Abraham Ainamani (all 74), Brian Toolit, Ronald Bukenya, Gerald Kabuye (75), Herman Mutawe (76), Denis Anguyo, Bruhan Matovu, George Olayo, Ismail Muhamood, Fred Wanzala (77), Grace Kasango (78), Samuel Kato, Tom Jingo, Canary Kabise, Martin Ochaya and Saidi Mawa (79), Becca Mwanja, Richard Baguma (80), Lawrence Muhenda (81) and Nasser Mackie (82) all missed.

A total of thirty-five (35) professionals took part in the day-long event played under sunny conditions.

All those who made the cut:

• 1 – Herman Deco Mutebi – 69
• T2 – Ashraf Bagalana – 70
• Deo Akope – 70
• 4 – Phillip Kasozi – 71
• T5 – Marvin Kibirige – 72
• Ronald Rugumayo – 72
• Vincent Byamukama – 72
• Adolf Muhumuza – 72

JT Lady Jaguars have been head and shoulders above their competition in the Women’s Division II. They have literary walked through the park registering no loss thus far.

Jaguars who earned promotion to the National Basketball League will be playing their last game in the Division this evening when they take on Kampala University in Game 3 of the finals.

The star-studded side leads the best-of-five finals series 2-0 having won the opening two games of the series 67-28 and 73-27 and nothing at this point could stop them from sweeping the series

With the likes of Rhoda Naggita, Zainah Lokamweri, Sarah Ageno, Moreen Amoding, and Muhayimina Namuwaya who have played for championships sides in the National Basketball League, it’s only right for the side to complete the season unbeaten.

Meanwhile, in the men’s division, Rez Life Saints will be fighting to stay alive in the series they trail 2-1 to Kampala Rockets.

The two sides will be playing in the National Basketball League next year having eliminated Livingstone and Nkumba Marines respectively.

In their series, the Rockets won the opener before Rez Life levelled. However, on Wednesday night, Rockets took the series lead with Peter Cheng (20), Kur Garang (15), and Suka Fadul (10) scoring in double figures.

The Rockets will be crowned Division II Champions if they win tonight and thus Rez Life head coach Daniel Jjuuko will need Timothy Thok who scored 22 points last time out to get enough help from the likes of Emmanuel Okot, Ivan Otyek, and Philip Kalenzi