Lubiri SS were crowned Kampala Zone U17 boys’ football champions after defeating Kakungulu Memorial School 2-1 in the final of the qualifiers for the USSSA Ball Games II.
Kawempe Muslim Secondary School also secured qualification for the national championships after edging Busabala Muslim SS 1-0, joining Lubiri SS among the schools that qualified from the zone.
In the final played at Lubiri SS grounds, Bony Namiti opened the scoring before turning provider for Nasib Ssenono, who headed home the second goal from a well-delivered pass by the speedy winger. The two second-half strikes gave Lubiri SS a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Kakungulu Memorial pulled one back when Badru Wahid won and converted a penalty for a consolation goal. Wahid finished the tournament as the top scorer with five goals.
The final also marked another chapter in the rivalry between coaches Yasir Magala of Kakungulu Memorial and Dan Ssegawa of Lubiri SS. It ended in sweet revenge for Lubiri SS, who had earlier lost 3-1 to Kakungulu Memorial during the group stages.
Earlier, Lubiri SS had defeated Kakungulu Memorial 1-0 to lift the U15 boys’ trophy. The U17 triumph completed a Kampala Zone boys’ football hat-trick for the school this year, having also won the U20 title during the first term to end a trophy drought that had lasted for more than a decade.
In girls’ football, Uganda Martyrs High School Lubaga defeated Kawempe Muslim SS 2-0 in the U15 final, with Faith Tuhaise scoring both goals in the second half. Both schools qualified to represent the Kampala Zone at the national championships.
The qualified teams will now represent Kampala Zone at the national championships scheduled to take place from July 8 to 19 in Gulu at Sacred Heart Secondary School.
