Rock Classic Hotel Managing Director Issa Bbaale (3rd left) poses with some of the local and foreign players set for the Rock Classic Squash tournament in Tororo at Kampala Club, April 18, 2019. PHOTO: Michael Nsubuga
A number of foreign players jetted into the country to compete in the Rock Classic Squash tournament due at Rock Classic Hotel starting April 19-22.
Tom Ford from England, Kevin Ndolvu and South Africa based Ken Mwape from Zambia were some of the early arrivals for the four-day championship expected to attract over 60 players.
The lucrative tournament that will involve both local and international players has cash prizes ranging from between $120 and $1500 (sh400, 000-sh5m).
Uganda's Seed 1 Michael Kawooya says Uganda will be represented by over 50 players who are eagerly waiting to test themselves against the foreign players.
"We want to show that squash is still a popular sport in the country despite it being an expensive sport in terms of equipment. We are all set and our chances of winning the tournament are high. Paul Kadoma and I are the most experienced players on Team Uganda, so we expect to do the best," Kawooya stated.
Nigerian Seed 3 Garba Abdullateef Enimakure and England's Tom Ford were also upbeat ahead of the start of the three-day event.
"I'm here to win the trophy and take it home. I trained a lot at home before I came here so I'm ready," Eninakure said.
"It's going to be my first tournament in 18 months but I'm looking forward to it and will take one match at a time and then see what happens," Ford stated.
"It's my first time in Uganda and I expect a more competitive tournament. It going to be tough because all the top guys are here so I will have to work hard," Mwape stated.
Rock Classic Hotel Managing Director Issa Bbaale said the tournament will be used to unveil
The new courts intended to spread the sport outside Kampala.
"In this month we celebrate Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi's birthday, the squash fraternity felt the need to be part of the celebrations that why we decided to organize this tournament in conjunction with the Uganda Squash Racquets Association," Issa Bbaale.
"We have a brand new pair of squash courts at Rock Classic Hotel in Tororo which we are going to unveil to the world. It's going to be fun and enjoyable and we shall cut a cake on Easter to celebrate the Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi's birthday," Bbaale stated.
