Scrabble: Geria pledges to down hosts Kenya

Uganda Scrabble captain Richard Geria has pledged to work hard in order to tame Kenya in the East and Central Africa Scrabble Association (ECASA) championship that gets underway in Nairobi, Kenya on Friday.

The veteran player who doubles as the coach said that the Ugandan team has got the depth to dislodge players from Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda in the three-day event that concludes on Sunday.

"We have been preparing very aggressively for this event. I am happy to lead a strong unit. I have high confidence that we shall perform better," Geria said during the flag off ceremony at Lugogo on Wednesday.

Geria leads a team of 18 players that will square off in 27 rounds of action in the regional event.

The team that departed got a boost with an offer of 12 bus tickets from National Council of Sport (NCS) for the event.

 "We have had the right environment to prepare. The team is strong mentally and we are ready to vie for glory," added Geria after receiving the national flag from NCS assistance secretary David Katende at Lugogo.

The Uganda side that finished second to Kenya in Jinja last year includes top seed Edwin Mugisha who finished second to Kenya's Gitonga Nderitu.

Other players include Edgar Odongkara, David Onai, Chris Ntege, Rose Kisembo, Lawrence Onyoin, Davis Apuli, and Assumpta Nakyanzi.

Others Joe Ojok, Sam Ojok, Mark Okwir, Pierre Opio, Chris Kalibbala, Linda Alyek, Nelson Kyagera, Jonathan Tawoda and Ssali Stephen.