Ford wins Rock Classic International Squash tournament

England's Tom Ford beat Zambia's Kevin Ndolvu 3-1 in the men's final to win the inaugural edition of the Rock Classic International Squash tournament at Rock Classic Hotel in Tororo on Easter Sunday.

He consequently took the overall winners' prize money of $1500 (sh5.5m) with runners up Ndolvu picking $1200 (sh4.4m)

Seed-one Ford got a bie in the first round before beating Uganda's Mark Musinguzi 3-0, en-route to eliminating tournament Seed 9, Uganda's Michael Kawooya 3-0 in the quarter finals. He then saw off Zambia's Manda Chilambwe before setting the final match against another Zambian Ndolvu.

It was all a Zambian affair in the other grueling semifinal where Kevin Ndolvu overcame his playing partner and country man Kudanyi Kalengo 3-2 after 90 minutes. Ndolvu had earlier beaten Edwin Mpoza 3-0, Kenya's James Daldi 3-0 before eliminating Kalengo.

"It wasn't easy but it was helpful to have a couple of games before. He had a tough semifinal and I just ensured I tire him more by having him run all over the court but it wasn't easy. It was a good tournament going by the kind of competition and prize money. The players were very good but I think they lack the match experience than I do get in England," Ford stated.

"I hadn't seen many of these guys in action but I just ensured I looked after myself well, reserved my energy, ate well, rested well and tried to prepare in the best possible way,"

Ndolvu partly blamed fatigue for the defeat. "Physically he was doing better than me having rested much more than I after the semis, but his experience was also key; because I tried to come back in the third set but it wasn't enough," Ndolvu said.

 The different winners pose with their trophies after the Rock Classic International Squash tournament, April 22 2019

The best Ugandan performer out of 15 in the main draw was Mike Kawooya who made it to the quarters but found the going tough against England's Ford, losing 3-0. Kawooya picked $200 (sh740, 000) just like the other quarter finalists

"We tried our best but most of our boys lack the experience and need more exposure with such experienced players," Kawooya reasoned.

The most dramatic match of the tournament was the tie between Zambia's Kudanyi Kalengo and Nigeria's Abdulateef which ended prematurely with the Zambian leading 8-1 in the tie break after a 1-1 tie.

With the match lasting over an hour, the exhausted Nigerian legs could no longer hold as all attempts to buy out time by feigning injuries were waived off by the umpire. He left the court crawling!

In the ladies category, Kenya's Jane Njeri took the lion's share of the prize money after dispatching Uganda's Jane Nabanoba 3-0 in the final. She had earlier eliminated Pauline Agaba and Judith Nalukwago with identical 3-0 wins while Nabanoba had ejected Joelia Mpomba and Judy Mutysia with the same scores.

"The tournament was well organized and I thank the sponsors because we had fun. It was very competitive but I managed to win for the first time of my first visit to Uganda," Njeri said.

Tororo South MP Frederick Angura and Rock Classic Hotel CEO Sula Sseremba along other dignitaries presided over the prize ceremony of what is set to become an annual tournament.

Rock Classic International Squash tournament

Semifinals

Tom Ford (ENG)  3 Manda Chilambwe (ZAM) 0

Kudanyi Kalengo (ZA) 2 Kevin Ndolvu (ZA) 3

Finals

Tom Ford 3 Kevin Ndolvu 1

Women final

Jane Njeri (KE) 3 Jane Nabanoba (UG) 0

Plate event

Aston Guto (KE) 3 Sifiso Musi (SWZ) 0