Soroti University to host 14th edition of Uganda Woodball Open

Soroti City will host this year’s edition of the Uganda Woodball Open at Soroti University playgrounds from October 4 to 9.

The annual event organised by Uganda Woodball Federation is expected to bring together 40 teams that will take part in the junior, youth, university and corporate categories.

William Osire, the acting Technical Director of Uganda Woodball Federation told Vision Sport that the championship will be competitive as teams such as Kisubi University (men and women) will be looking to retain the corporate trophies, while Prisons and Ndejje (Men and women) are the senior category accolade holders.

In the junior category, we will be witnessing Nalugale Muslim school, Bonabana Association (boys and girls) compete for the junior trophy as Airforce SS and Luzira SS (boys and girls) will struggle for the youth accolades.  

According to Osire, a two-day tournament is expected to receive teams from neighbouring countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sudan and the host Uganda.

Osire applauded Taifa Woodball Club from Kenya and Umoja Woodball Club all the way from Tanzania for their presence at the 13th edition hosted at Mbale Sports Club, Mbale City.

“We are set as Soroti University to have the games hosted in Teso for the first time and Soroti University has enough playgrounds to accommodate the sport,” said Bruno Oribi, Soroti University Sports Tutor.

According to Oribi, it will be an added advantage to the Soroti University student to see how other universities such as Makerere, Ndejje, Mountains of the Moon, Kabale, Gulu, Lira, Kyambogo among others are showcasing their talents in different sports.

A woodball player in action

He said the university is right now creating several playing venues at the university complex, as they expect a competitive league.

“We shall not look at the games being hosted here without a team. That means we are trying our best to ensure that we identify a team that is ready to compete and not to participate," Oribi narrates.

Peter Okwii, competitions director at Ngora High School said the team of boys and girls are set to take part in the league.

"It's going to be our first time to take part in the woodball open league, but the team of young boys and girls who have been undergoing training will win an accolade in the competition.

Victoria Bugembe Nampala, the Public Relations Officer Uganda Woodball Federation says the rotation of the tournament from one region to the other every year has not only helped the sport to grow in the upcountry and talent identification.

“Woodball is now a big sport, and we are committed to continuing to grow with the sport,” Nampala said.

Nicholas Opio, Soroti district sports officer, applauded Uganda woodball federation for identifying Soroti city/ district as the host of the annual event.