Namutebi basks in adulation as Uganda finishes fourth in Cana Zone III

CANA ZONE III  Championship               

Overall positions       

Tanzania                  

Kenya

Zambia

Uganda

South Africa

Sudan

Uganda's top five

Kirabo Namutebi 9 gold+ 3 silver

Ben Kaganda 3 gold+ 3 silver+ 4 bronze

Avice Meya 3 gold+ 2silver + 3 bronze

Darren Ssamula 2 gold+ 4 bronze+ 3 silver

Adnan Kabuye 1 gold+ 1 silver

Uganda did not quite have it both ways at the CANA ZONE III that ended Saturday at HOPAC School, Tanzania.

Short of numbers, the team finished a distant fourth but nonetheless produced master stroke performances on individual basis.

They deservedly received plaudits from a section of swimming fanatics when they all returned home with at least a medal each swimmer.

An overwhelming medal haul of 57 amongst the 14 swimmers that represented Uganda was testament of a spirited push for glory by the rather young visiting team.

Kirabo Namutebi paid in full dividends, emerging Uganda's best participant collecting a total of 12 medals; 9 golds and 3 silvers in the 12 and under girls category. Her gold medals came in 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, 50mbutterfly, 50mfreestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 100IM, 200IM, mixed 200m and the medley relay.

She took silver in 200m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 100m butterfly. Namutebi emerged the overall winner in the 12 and under girls

Fast rising swimmer Ben Kaganda collected 3 gold medals in 200m mixed relay, 100m butterfly and 50mbreasstroke. The youngster added 3 silver medals in 200m, 100m freestyle and 100m IM before crowning his campaign with 4 bronze in 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 200m IM.

Uganda's team captain Avice Meya bagged 3 gold medals in 200m IM, 50m backstroke, and 100m backstroke.

She also won four silver medals in 100m IM, 50Mbackstroke and 100m butterfly before returning two bronze medals in 200m freestyle relay and 400m freestyle relay.

The 22 year old more importantly won the first overall trophy in the 17 and overall girls category.

"I t was a great experience down there and it was rewarding for our team despite being few in numbers. As some of the lessons, we have learnt to survive in tricky situations" Meya said Monday as the team was welcomed to a luncheon at Cooper Chimney restaurant, Lugogo courtesy of National Council of Sports.

Meanwhile, Rachael Galinda, after claiming FOUR bronze medals in the meet, she is determined to further improve her applications in the most possible way.

Tanzania successfully defended the championship on home soil.