by Olalekan Okusan, ITTF-Africa Press Officer & Pacinthe Osman, Course Conductor

Staged at the NPC Gymnasium Amahoro National Stadium, at total of 21 players, 10 boys and 11 girls attended; in addition to the host nation, players travelled from Tanzania and Uganda.

Proceedings were directed by Egypt’s Pacinthe Osman, supported by seven coaches, two of whom having travelled from Uganda.

The coaches at the NPC Gymnasium Amahoro National Stadium (Photo: courtesy of Pacinthe Osman)

A full schedule was organised, each day play commenced at 8.00 am and ended at 6.00 pm.

Matters concluded with the traditional competition from which the leading players progress to attend the Continental Hopes Tournament scheduled to be staged in June in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Preparing to play (Photo: courtesy of Pacinthe Osman)

Uganda emerged the most successful nation; Tendo Kasoma and Flavia Amaniyo won the respective cadet boys’ singles and cadet girls’ singles events; Tendo Kasoma finished ahead of Rwanda’s Cedric Ukurikiyeye, Tanzania’s Alisa Bhojani was the girls’ singles silver medallist.

Similarly, Wabugoya Juma emerged the under 12 boys’ champion. The one interloper was Rwanda’s Hirwa Kelia, she won the under 12 girls’ event.

Understandably, Jiagwe Robert, President of Uganda Table Tennis Association, was delighted, the success a reward for the efforts made in the past two years.

“This marks the very first time in the history of Ugandan Table Tennis that we are sending a team of cadet and hopes players to the Continental African Championships. There has always been some neglect of these young ones but we have now put good eyes on them and these are the fruits of our efforts and the extra ordinary work being done by our coaches, clubs and schools.” Jiagwe Robert

Delighted with the results, Jiagwe Robert was most positive about the future.

“This performance is proof that table tennis now has a very clear and admirable future. We have very many young players now and to have these young ones performing. We are extremely excited that it is the young ones who have helped Uganda to finally conquer our Eastern Zone of Africa.” Jiagwe Robert

A most successful tournament thanks very much to the efforts of John Bosco Birungi, President of the Rwanda Table Tennis Federation; alongside members of his staff, everything was well prepared and organised.