Uganda Table tennis sensational Joseph Ssebatindira’s coach Alvin Katumba believes the youngster is still capable of winning more accolades from the sport if he is allowed to compete in more events.

Ssebatindira, 9, was one of four sportspersons who won the monthly gong from the Fortebet Real Stars Awards for their outstanding performance in January.

He was recognized, having won both the U-13 and the U-11 World Table Tennis Star Contender Doha 2024 titles in Qatar.

The rest were middleweight boxer Kamada Ntege ‘Sure fire’ who the ABU East and Central Regional title after he beat Ali Hamis Muzei from Tanzania at Club Obligato, Kisubi Pacers, and Lady Rugby Cranes player Grace Nabaggala who starred for the team during the Dubai Challenge Series, and Weatherhead Hockey Club’s Colline Batussa who helped his side to a league and Uganda Cup double.

Ssebatindira’s feat the Lusail Sports Arena in Doha, had him beating Qatar’s Abdulla Abdulaziz-Al 3-1 in the U-13 final before he thrashed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Taher Faris-Al with a 3-0 straight-sets victory (11-3, 11-7, 11-7) in the U-11 final.

“They were more experienced players but I used faster returns which they failed to deal with,” Ssebatindira said after he received his accolade from Fortebet Ambassador Alex Muhangi.

Ssebatindira, 9, was one of four sportspersons who won the monthly gong from the Fortebet Real Stars Awards for their outstanding performance in January.

“He played well and was outstanding in the competition and because some players knew that he had won in Cairo before, they gave him respect that is why he was dominant on top of his talent and hard work,” Katumba noted.

“Sometimes he is nervous and afraid of playing against older opponents but we keep on encouraging and comforting him and he ends up winning most of the time,” Katumba said.

“Ssebatindira stays at Nakasero Primary School and plays for the Nakasero Table Tennis Club. Despite his age, he has talent. We sported him from there and he put in the hard work and that is how he has been able to make it.

“He trains every day. During holidays he trains from 10 am to evening while during school time he trains after class for about two hours before he retires home to prepare for the next day’s school program,” Katumba said.

Weatherheads Hockey Club’s Batussa said the award was a great motivator that will push him to work harder.

“Winning such an award is every sportsman’s happiness, and winning it is not something easy, so it pushes me to work even harder. I’m honoured and it is my pleasure to win it because I have been nominated before and not won, so I’m grateful. It is going to be hard work from now on,” Batuusa stated.

Batussa (left), Ntege and Nabaggala pose with their awards at Lazio Restaurant, February 6, 2024. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

East Africa middleweight champion Lipanda Boxing Club Sure Fire’s Ntege is now also focused on challenging for the African title and has already started preparations.

“I won the title after hard work with my coach and all the support that I received from all the Ugandans and my self-belief. I had worked hard before because beating such an opponent is not easy,” Ntege said.

“This was my first title having been allowed to challenge the opponent. Now everyone wants to know more about me,” Kamada who started as a 12-year-old and played for the national team for eight years said.

It isn’t any different for Nabaggala who was excited for her first award in the sport.

“I feel very excited about winning this award for the first time and I’m now going put in a shift to win many more. It was a tough outing because it was the first time we were playing the HSBC series; things were really hard, the games were competitive but we managed fourth place out of the 12 having put in a lot of hard work,” Nabaggala who excelled during her third cap with the team having joined the sport in 2020, stated.

“I dedicate this award to my mum, my coach, and my teammates and to everyone that supported us,”