SAU sends three for the World Scrabble Championship in Ghana
Geria highlighted that this year's team is highly experienced, with himself qualifying as Seed-1, and Tinka and Apuuli as Seeds 2 and 3, respectively.
NCS's NCS General Secretary-Administration Milton Chebet (right) and Sports Senior Sports Officer Sarah Nankya (3rd right) pose with Uganda Scrabble team of Richard Geria (left), James Armstrong Tinka (left), Davis Apuuli (2nd left) and James Tinka as well as SAU vice president Chris Kalibbala (2nd right). Photo by Michael Nsubuga
The Scrabble Association of Uganda (SAU) still has fond memories of Ghana, where a three-man team of Richard Geria, Edgar Odongkara, and Ivan Ssentongo won gold as Scrabble made its debut at the 13th All-Africa Games last year.
The team claimed gold, with team captain Richard Geria also picking up an individual silver.
Now, SAU is sending another formidable trio, with Geria once again leading the charge, back to Ghana. This time, they aim to match their previous triumph on an even grander stage: the Scrabble World Championship, which is returning to Africa for the second time. Geria ‘the lion from Arua’ will join forces with Davis Apuuli and James Armstrong Tinka, representing Uganda among 250 elite players from 48 countries at the Palms by Eagles, Airport City hotel in Accra, November 9-16.
Speaking to reporters before the team departed for the World Scrabble Championship (WESPAC) at the NCS headquarters in Lugogo on Friday, Geria expressed strong confidence in the ‘Word Cranes’ prospects. He recalled that in 2017, when Kenya hosted the championship, Uganda secured a bronze medal, a surprising achievement that nearly earned them a silver, though they were only three members short.
Geria highlighted that this year's team is highly experienced, with himself qualifying as Seed-1, and Tinka and Apuuli as Seeds 2 and 3, respectively.
He mentioned that their selection to represent the nation followed qualifying tournaments held in Gulu, Mbarara, and Buloba. “The team feels deeply honored to bear the responsibility of representing Uganda and pledges to perform their utmost, acting as excellent ambassadors and projecting a positive image, thereby continuing to contribute the "soft power" that sports can offer the nation. Geria further stated that the team had undergone extensive preparation, participating in over 100 competitive matches in recent months, and is optimistic about achieving a strong performance. The team was officially sent off by Milton Chebet, NCS General Secretary-Administration, accompanied by Sarah Nankya, Senior Sports Officer, who urged them to carry the nation's aspirations.
Nankya specifically challenged the SAU to promote the sport nationwide by collaborating with their sports officers and educational institutions in every district of Uganda. She encouraged the team to compete with passion, self-belief, and teamwork and to bring glory to the country.
Chebet said the government was committed to the development of all sports in the country with the current infrastructure development taking a multidisciplinary approach and asked SAU to take advantage of that initiative.
“We need to strategically position ourselves well in order to attract more investment in our different sports associations as the government also chips in with some help,” Chebet said.
He thanked the players for representing loving the sport and for keeping it running.
“You are carrying the aspiration of the country; you are our ambassadors, so keep our flag high. Learn new things from there that you can implement in Uganda,” he stated.
Chris Kalibbala, SAU vice president-administration, thanked NCS for the support and appealed for continued support to the association to enable greater national representation in future international competitions.