Lacrosse, Tennis, Hockey Added to USSSA Teso Zone Calendar
The decision was reached during the zonal executive term one preparatory meeting held on Tuesday at Garden Nest Lounge in Soroti City.
USSSA Teso Zone executive members in a group photo after the term one preparatory meeting held on Tuesday
The Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Teso Zone has endorsed racket and bat games as part of the disciplines to be contested in this year’s zonal competitions.
The inclusion of tennis, hockey, and lacrosse alongside existing sports such as volleyball, netball, dancesport, football, mind games, rugby, handball, swimming, and athletics is expected to broaden opportunities for students to identify and pursue their preferred disciplines.
The decision was reached during the zonal executive term one preparatory meeting held on Tuesday at Garden Nest Lounge in Soroti City.
Under the leadership of John Robert Osuu, zonal chairperson, the Teso Zone has experienced visible reforms and steady growth in team participation at the zonal level. Osuu emphasized that the addition of new disciplines like hockey, lacrosse, and tennis will significantly widen talent identification.
“I would like to congratulate USSSA for expanding the number of sports disciplines contested at nationals. This will enable students to showcase their talents alongside established sports such as football, netball, basketball, volleyball, and athletics,” said Oluka.
Peter Okwii, general secretary of the Teso Zone, highlighted lacrosse as a key discipline where students should focus to have their talents identified. He noted that lacrosse made its debut as a demonstration sport during the National Ball Games II and Athletics in Tororo, and later featured in the 22nd edition of the Federation of East African Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games in Kakamega, Kenya.
Godliver Apolot, secretary for women’s affairs at USSSA, encouraged Teso schools to invest more in lacrosse, describing it as fertile ground for growth and easy to organize. “What started with just four Ugandan girls’ schools playing lacrosse during the 2024 USSSA Ball Games in Kabale has now expanded to 14 schools,” Apolot said.
She added that Uganda’s representatives at the 22nd FEASSA Games in Kakamega, Kenya performed excellently, further demonstrating the sport’s potential.