Mbogo College stamp mark in table tennis

Mbale- The parking lot at Mbale Secondary School emptied fast on Friday evening as some teams began to depart from the Fresh Dairy Secondary School Ball Games.

As they headed for Term I holidays, many were in celebration like Mbogo College. The Kawempe-based institute have become masters of table tennis.

The side won its fifth straight boys’ title at the Games after defeating Seeta High Green 3-2 in the final. Mbogo College added to their delight at Ntare 2015, Kabalega SS 2016, Rushoroza 2017 and Nyakasura in Fort Portal last year.

Interestingly in Mbale, they relied on eventual MVP and youngest player Juma Wabugoya to win the close contest.

The 12 year-old who is in Senior 1 defeated Benjamin Achuma 3-2 to swing the result into their favour on a busy day.
“We train them a lot,” remarked their coach Robert Ssekitoleko after huge celebrations. “We have a small space at the school so that forces us to play indoors,” he said.

Wabugoya recently won a juniors’ tournament in Kigali and he will next month head to Kinshasa for an ITTF Hopes tourney.

Wabugoya is the youngest of the team that also had Ivan Zandya, Ismail Lubango, Wasswa Kikomeko, Brian Binen and John Madanda. This side will head to the East Africa Games set to be held in Arusha, Tanzania come August. At the East Africa Games, Mbogo College boys won the overall table tennis titles in Dar-es-Salaam 2014, Huye 2015, Gulu 2017 and in Musanze, Rwanda last year.

“We have a good program for the sport from senior one. The sport is also on the timetable,” remarked coach Jude Mutete who also disclosed that the school has a partnership with Mbale Tigers Club academy.

Meanwhile, their female counterparts came third after beating Mbogo High 3-2. But the gold went to Mbogo Mixed who defeated St Micheal 3-1 with Ivy Nekesa beating Flavia Amaniyo 3-0.

“I played against the toughest opponent in the tournament,” stated Nekesa who began the game at the age eight. “I thank my coaches and teammates who helped me in training,” she added.

SELECTED RESULTS
RUGBY 15S
FINAL
Smack 9-9 Namilyango
(Smack won 3-2)
3RD PLACE
Ntare 17-05 Macos
5TH PLACE
Budo SS 31-00 KC Butiki
7TH PLACE
Lango College 17-07 Mbarara High
TABLE TENNIS
BOYS’ FINAL
Mbogo College 3-2 Seeta High Green
3RD PLACE
St Michael Wakiso 3-1 Seeta High Mbalala
GIRLS’ FINAL
Mbogo Mixed 3-1 St Michael Wakiso
3RD PLACE
Mbogo College 3-2 Mbogo High
LAWN TENNIS
BOYS FINAL
Kibuli SS 2-1 Kololo
THIRD PLACE
Old Kampala 2-0 Mwiri
GIRLS’ FOOTBALL
9TH PLACE
Olila HS 1-0 St St Peters HS
11TH PLACE
Dynamic SS 0-1 Rines HS
BASKETBALL
BOYS’ SEMIFINALS
Kibuli 65-62 Ndejje
GIRLS’ SEMIFINALS
St Noah 52-38 Budo SS
Kitende 84-52 Nabisunsa