Kampala University win 5th Taifa International Woodball Open in Nairobi
A total of twelve players, both male and female, represented the university during the three-day championship.
Kampala University captain Mathias Wahala (2nd right) receives the overall winners trophy. Courtesy photo
By Michael Nsubuga
Journalists @New Vision
The Kampala University (KU) woodball team delivered an outstanding performance, clinching the top position at the Fifth Taifa International Woodball Open Championship held in Nairobi from June 27 to 30.
A total of twelve players, both male and female, represented the university during the three-day championship.
The men's team included captain Mathias Wahala, Moses Agaba, Robert Ssuuna, Thomas Kedi, Brian Gwaka, and Fazil Wabulembo. The women's team consisted of Rose Sandra Nabaggala, Aisha Nakanjako, Alverah Mukamarinda, Mirembe Sanyu, Mary Namara, and Lillian Zawedde, who served as both a coach and player.
Kampala University collected six gold, four silver, and three bronze to win the championship with 13 medals.
Brian Gwaka led KU’s onslaught, claiming double gold from the men’s singles stroke and men’s singles fairway events before he teamed up with Thomas Kedi to win silver in the men’s doubles stroke competition.
He also scooped the tournament’s MVP Award. On her part, Nabaggala also notched gold in the women’s singles stroke competition, while they also grabbed gold in the men’s team stroke and the men’s team fairway competitions
In the men’s category, Kampala University swept both team events, winning gold in the Men’s Team Stroke and Men’s Team Fairway. Agaba Moses and Robert Ssuuna were also good for gold in the Men’s Doubles Fairway contest.
Brian Gwaka/Thomas Kedi, Mathias Wahala/Lillian Zawedde, and Fazil Wabulembo/Mary Namara also picked up silver medals in the men’s doubles stroke, mixed doubles fairway, and mixed doubles stroke play events, while the women’s team also settled for silver in the women’s team stroke play event.
The other medalists for KU included Alverah Mukamarinda and Sanyu Mirembe, who picked up bronze from the women’s doubles stroke play event on top of the women’s team fairway and the singles fairway bronze by Nabaggala.
“The men's team was more than prepared for the games since they were training together,” Coach Zawedde said.
“We are so excited and grateful to God for this great performance. We are also grateful to Kampala University's top management for trusting the woodball team,” she stated.
KU was making their debut participation in this prestigious championship and delivered beyond expectations. The university woodball stars team was established in December 2023, and by 2024, the team had already made history by becoming champions of the Eastern Africa University Games held at Maseno University.