Opolot warns schools against ignoring sports as Amus College shines
Opolot hailed the zonal executive for organizing competitions that assembled 1,200 athletes and officiating officials.
Soroti Secondary School handball players celebrating their handball trophy victory at the zonal games hosted in Kumi
Kumi District Chairperson Stephen Opolot has cautioned Teso school administrators against prioritizing academic performance at the expense of learners' talents and overall development.
Speaking at the closure of the USSSA Teso Zone Ball Games II and Athletics qualifiers on Sunday at Kumi Boma Grounds in Kumi District, Opolot emphasized that schools must create an environment where learners can thrive not only in academics but also in sports, music, drama, and other co-curricular activities.
"Sports teach us determination, resilience, and the ability to bounce back even when the body seems indecipherable. It is therefore a mandate for every learner to be active in sport as a career," Opolot said.
Opolot hailed the zonal executive for organising competitions that assembled 1,200 athletes and officiating officials.
Bukedea Comprehensive School (Bukedea District) displaying the trophies they won in boys' and girls' volleyball during the Teso Zone Ball Games II and Athletics qualifiers
The five-day championship, which ran from June 24 to 28, saw Amus College School winning six trophies in football (U-15 and U-17) and basketball for both boys and girls. Bukedea Comprehensive School earned three trophies, secured in netball and volleyball.
Other winners during the championship were Soroti Secondary School and Light SS, which took handball and cricket trophies. The chess trophy went to Ngora High School, while Serere Township took home the Kho Kho trophy.
In a related development, Katakwi High School in Katakwi District was named the overall winner in athletics, having grabbed both the boys' and girls' titles with an accumulated 273 points.
Calvin Opio, a games teacher at Amus College School, attributed his school's success to the dedication and hard work of the students and staff, emphasizing the importance of sports in the overall development of the students.
He expressed pride in the achievements of the school's teams and underscored the significance of such events in fostering teamwork, discipline, and resilience among students.
John Robert Osuu, USSSA Regional Chairperson, encouraged the selected schools to represent the zone at the national level and to start preparing for the national games to be hosted in Tororo.
Osuu applauded the Katakwi District athletics team for lifting the athletics overall trophy for the first time.
USSSA Teso Zone Qualifiers
Winners
Athletics
Katakwi 374 points
Football
U-17
Boys
Amus college school
Girls
Kongunga high school
Football
U-15
Boys
Amus College School
Girls
Amus college school
Netball
Bukedea comprehensive School
Basketball
Boys
Amus college school
Girls
Amus college school
Handball.
Boys
Soroti SS
Girls
Light SS
Volleyball
Boys
Bukedea Comprehensive School
Girls
Bukedea Comprehensive School
Chess
Boys
Ngora high school
Kho Kho
Boys
Serere township
Girls
Serere township
Futsal
Boys
Light SS
Cricket
Girls
Light SS