Stroke Woodball Club’s Thomas Kedi and Eminent Woodball Club’s Joyce Nalubega were recognized as the Most Valuable Players of the 2022 woodball season at the tenth edition of Uganda Woodball Federation awards gala held at Hotel Africana on Friday.

The two players were recognised for their outstanding display in both the local and international events, with Nalubega the most decorated of the two.

Two gold medals from the Kenya International Open stroke and fairway competitions, two gold and two silver from the first and fourth beach circuits, a gold from professional leagues as well as silver medals from the Kyambogo University open, women day championship, Ndejje University Open and at the President’s Cup ensured Nalubega beat Joan Mukoova and Christine Birungi to the MVP award.

On his part Kedi’s two gold from the national league and from the professional woodball league as well as silver and bronze from the Kenya International open stroke competition and another bronze from the National Coral Coating Uganda open as well as a silver from the President’s Cup ensured he came on top of the other nominees; Eminents’ Israel Muwanguzi and Prisons’ Samson Rugongeza.

MVPs Joyce Nalubega (2nd left) and Thomas Kedi (2nd right) with UWbF president Mark Kayongo (left) and NCS asst. general secretary David Katende. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“This award means a lot to me because there was a time I had given up but I reflected on my performance and decided to focus on the remaining games and its good it finally paid off and I’m very happy,” Nalubega said.

“I will try to maintain the same focus next year and try to win it again,” she added.

Kedi attributed the award to hard work and said it had offered good mileage and inspired him to work hard to achieve more.

“This inspires me and even other players to work hard and aim for the same. It was down to consistency and hard work; I still have more years ahead of me to achieve many more of the same,” Kedi stated.

The other nominee Muwanguzi was nominated for his two gold from the Ndejje Corporate stroke and fairway competition, three silver from the National coral coating Uganda Open, second and third beach circuits as well bronze from the Kyambogo, and 4th Beach Circuit.

The top female junior players Juliet Mbasige (left), Sylivia Nakaye and Patricia Phiona. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

(L-R) The top corporate woodball players of 2022 Joan Najjuma, Noeline Nalwoga and Aidah Namubiru. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Rising star Rugongeza won two gold from the 3rd Beach circuit and from the Ndejje University Open as well as bronze from the national league.

Other awards went to Kisubi Corporate Woodball Club and Bugema University that topped the corporate categories in the male and female categories respectively, where Ndejje Corporate, Bugema as well as UNEB WC and Ndejje WC came second and third in both categories respectively.

Calleb Kiiza, Aloysius Ssekajigo and Timothy Mugarura as well as Babirye Nalwoga, Joan Najjuma and Aidah Namubiru were the top players in the singles.

Kisubi Corporate WC’s Jackson Masiga and Babirye Nalwoga were among the dominant awardees in the corporate category.

UWbF president Mark Kayongo (right) hands over a certificate of appreciation to Coral Coatings' Michael Masene and Eddie Kamera (left). Photo by Michael Nsubuga

NCS Assistant General Secretary David Katende who represented the Ministry of Education and Sports and UWbF president Mark Kayongo, Ndejje Vice Chancellor and UWbF Patron Eriab Lugujjo and including other dignitaries and sponsors’ representatives from Coral Coatings, Bugema University, Mbale Sports Club, Bunjako Beach, MUBS, Makerere University, Buganda Land Board, Ndejje University crowned the different winners.

Katende commended the UWbF for working for the success they have been able to achieve in a short time and advised other federations to put the athletes at the centre of what they are doing because they were the key stakeholders on which the federation success is measured.

The patron of the association Eriab Lugujjo noted that the sport, young as it is, is contagious and has attracted a spectrum of youth who will sustain it. He said it is one of the reasons it is one of the priority sports before he thanked partners and players that have ensured the sport continues to blossom.

UWbF president Mark Kayongo said as part of their strategic plan the federation has continued to organize a number of capacity building workshops and clinics for member clubs and woodball associations on top of strengthening their governance structures and skilling their staff, referees, club managers.

Kayongo said they had also been able to strengthen partnerships and collaboration (local and international) like the Chinese Embassy that has donated another equipment making machine.