2017 Copa Schools Football Championship winning captain for Jinja S.S, Joram Kirya has attributed the success to good preparations.
Speaking to Kawowo Sports, Kirya, a key defensive midfielder for the side throughout the tournament hinted on the numerous friendly matches they played with their senior team that plays in the Uganda Premier League.
We prepared well right from the district level to the regional championships.
We used to play many friendly matches with the super league team.
They gave us a challenge and in a way, we hardened up
Jinja S.S outwitted favorites St Mary’s Kitende 4-3 in post match penalties after normal time had ended one goal apiece.
Joel Madondo’s 80th minute opener was canceled by a late Kennedy Kasozi equalizer, two minutes from full time to force the match into that tense penalty shootout.
Kirya was among the penalty scorers. He converted the third kick after Fesali Najib and George Kalwoya’s kicks.
Vincent Zziwa who had a field day at office during the final converted the fourth kick before St Mary’s Kitende had their 5th kick from the penalty mark by Abdul-Karim Watambala kiss the cross bar to ignite wild celebrations.
Kirya led the rest of the teammates to the podium to pick their winners’ golden medals before he eventually received the glittering trophy from the state sports minister Charles Bakabulindi.
The team captain, an S.6 student who specialized in Mathematics, Entrepreneurship and Technical Drawing, also believes working together as one team, the motivation from the technical bench and school headmistress Diana Nyago also played a big part.
First of all, we believed in our selves, we worked hard in training and during the matches.
We worked as a team and were also well motivated by our coaches and madam (headmistress)
East African Secondary schools games:
Kirya now looks forward to captain Jinja S.S as they are joined by St Mary’s Kitende, Kibuli and host school St Joseph College Layibi at the 2017 East Africa secondary school games in Gulu come August.
The four schools will represent Uganda under the football boys event.
Jinja S.S Winning team
Lazalus Obelejo (Goalkeeper), Peter Onzima, Okon, George Kalwoya, Peter Ssebagala, Fesali Najib, Joram Kirya (Captain), Lawrence Tezikya, Alamanzani Nasooa, Joel Madondo, Vincent Zziwa, Ivan Wani, Jeremiah Otieno (Goalkeeper), Innocent Okotengo, Bright Nkwasimwe, Paul Otuddu, Douglas Mulabi, Ibrah Sajjabi, Abbey Mulamba