Four days after the launch of the ninth City Tyres East Africa Badminton Challenge, Kibuli Secondary School are already looking beyond the speeches and towards the courts, where captain Akbar Oduka wants his team to reclaim the title when the five-day tournament serves off at Lugogo Indoor Arena on October 14.
Oduka says Kibuli will put in the work before the competition, which runs until October 18, as the school side targets another championship after what promises to be a competitive field featuring players from across the region.
The tournament, sponsored by Linglong Tyres, is expected to attract more than 120 players competing across school, university, senior, veteran, coaches and corporate categories, alongside Indian and a new Chinese category.
Crown in sight
Oduka’s ambitions are matched by veteran Kibuli player Mable Namakoye, who returns with unfinished business after finishing runner-up in last year’s women’s singles and winning the mixed doubles title.
Namakoye is targeting another strong showing in both events, while crediting badminton with playing a significant role in her life beyond the court.
She thanked City Tyres for sustaining the tournament, saying the sport had supported her studies and helped her build valuable relationships.
The tournament will feature school age groups from Under-10 to Under-19, giving younger players another opportunity to compete alongside more experienced competitors.
Shamika’s legacy
Africa’s leading player Fadhila Shamika will miss this year’s tournament because of international commitments, but her message at the launch underlined the role the competition has played in her own journey.
Shamika said the tournament gave young players an important platform to compete against one another, develop their ambitions and eventually raise Uganda’s profile internationally.
‘It all began with us playing against each other, and that’s when we realised we could elevate Uganda’s standing internationally,’ she said.
Now an established international player, Shamika believes more champions can emerge from the same pathway and hopes her journey will inspire another generation to take Ugandan badminton onto the global stage.
Bigger platform
Uganda Badminton chief executive Simon Mugabi said this year’s edition has expanded to five days and will bring all categories together, including corporate teams.
Corporate matches will be played on Friday at 6pm and Saturday at 3pm. City Tyres Marketing Manager Herbert Bashasha said the company will provide more than 100 trophies and tournament attire, while commending the Indian Association of Uganda and Linglong for supporting the sport’s growth.
He also recognised Mugabi’s contribution towards staging the tournament over the years. Paresh Mehta, chairman of the Indian Association of Uganda, said the event had evolved into a platform for developing badminton in Uganda and the wider East African region.
He said thousands of players had passed through the competition over its nine editions, gaining competitive experience while developing skills, discipline, sportsmanship, friendship and leadership.
More importantly, Mehta said the tournament had created opportunities for Ugandan players to develop towards international competition.
‘When we give our young players an opportunity to compete, we are not simply developing a sport; we are developing their confidence, discipline, friendship, leadership, sportsmanship, and their dreams,’ Mehta said.
And in a month’s time, the attention will firmly be on Lugogo, where the shuttlecocks fly from October 14 and the search for this year’s champions begins.
AT A GLANCE
Oct 14-18: Tournament dates
Venue: Lugogo Indoor Arena – Venue
120+: Expected players
Edition: 9th
Competition days: 5
100+: Trophies and tournament attire