Kenya emerge school champs

By Norman Katende in Lira

Brookside East Africa Schools Medal Table

             Gold Silver Bronze Total

Kenya     12       5         7          24

Uganda    7      11        8          26

S. Sudan  1        0        1            2

Rwanda    0        4        1            5

Burundi     0        1        1            2

Tanzania   0        0        1            1

(No medals for Zanzibar)

A late surge by Kenya in the ball games saw them beat Uganda to the overall title of the Brookside East Africa games that concluded Sunday at Lango College, Lira.

Uganda went into the final day with a ray of hope for the overall title, but it was a different story on the field as Kenya tormented all their challengers in all final encounters that they reached.

St. Mary’s Kitende was a double victim as they failed to lift the boys’ volleyball crown after being beaten in straight sets (3-0) by Kenya’s Malava. 

They also lost the basketball crown to Malava in the girls’ final, while Lubiri Secondary School could not match the challenge of Upper Hill in the boys’ basketball final.

Kenya also lifted the girls’ handball, rugby and soccer titles to make it 12 gold medals and win the overall title.

Kitende retained the netball title, which they have won for the last 10 years and the men’s soccer title for the eighth year running after beating Rwanda’s Esir 4-0 in the final.

They beat St. Juliana of Uganda in the netball final.

“It was a great challenge and tight competition. All the teams put up a good competition and I can tell you that the future of the region is bright,” said state sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi before crowning the winners.