By Fred Mulinza
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Royal Giant High School are the champions of the boys category in the CAF African Schools Football Championship for the CECAFA Zone that ended on Sunday at the Azam Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
After playing to a goalless draw in normal time, the Ugandan team won 4-2 on penalties to lift the trophy and book a place for the continental showpiece to take place in April this year.
Although the Ethiopian team Geda Roble Secondary School had beaten Royal Giant High School 4-0 in the group stages, the Ugandan team came determined and proved a point when it mattered most.
“This is a sweet win for the boys because they worked so hard to get here. We now need to shift focus and prepare for the continental competition,” said the Royal Giant coach Frank Mulindwa.
Libya Primary School who had been beaten at the semi final stage by Royal Giant finished third.
In the girls category Tanzania’s Fountain Gate Dodoma Secondary School defeated Awaro SS from Ethiopia 3-0. Mary Aron Siyame, Winifrida Hubert Gerald and Rede Julius Boniphace netted the goals. “This is a dream come true and we are happy that we won all our matches in this competition,” said Fountain Gate coach Feronica Kiondo. Amus College from Uganda won the bronze medal.
Yussuf Mossi, the CECAFa Comeptitions Director said it was a good tournament and the best teams lifted the titles. “We are grateful to the schools for preparing their teams and coming to Tanzania to showcase their talent in the tournament,” added Mossi.
The tournament which had eight teams for boys and seven for girls saw the winners in each category (boys and girls) take US$100,000, runners-up US$75,000 and the third placed teams US$50,000. The Motsepe Foundation donated US$10 million to support the CAF African Schools Football Championship.
CAF Director of Member Associations, Sarah Mukuna who also attended the final and Awards ceremony thanked the teams for coming to grace the tournament.
Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Pindi Chana, the Tanzanian Minister of Culture, Arts and Sports was the guest of honor, while CECAFA President Wallace Karia, his Vice Isayas Jira Bosho also presided over the Awards ceremony.
