Overview:
Nicholas Alumai commenced the Baseball journey during primary six (2013), thanks to the encouragement from his coach Patrick Ochola in Luzira, a suburb of Kampala city.
Sport has over the years proved to have that enviable power to make, build, and sustain personalities as well as foster vital networks in life.
Endless tales in Uganda, and elsewhere about how sport has positively transformed personalities, families and societies are well documented.
Nicholas Alumai, 20, a baseball player who is a right-handed pitcher will boldly attest to the aforementioned.
Alumai has landed a four-year academic scholarship (Engineering) in the United States of America (2023 to 2027).
This academic scholarship was offered by the University of St Thomas in Houston in Texas effective 17th January 2023
I am humbled for the academic scholarship provided by the University of St Thomas as I further develop my talent in Baseball. I thank everybody who has been in the development path of his career. I thank my family, coaches, advisors and the media.
Nicholas Alumai, Baseball player
Prior to this life-changing opportunity, Alumai had been on a domestic academic scholarship at the Allen VR Stanley School in Mpigi, Nakirebe throughout the Ordinary and Advanced levels of education (S1 – S6).
Alumai departs for the USA on Tuesday, 10th January 2023 ahead of a gruelling baseball schedule whose new season bowls off in February 2023.
For starters, Alumai is the last born in a family of six (the only boy).
His father Morris Okunzi and late mother Kejji Kedijah encouraged him to get educated.
He enrolled for elementary primary studies at Makindye Military Primary School before he switched allegiance to Blessed Academy Makindye and sat his Primary Leaving Examinations at Murchison Bay Primary School in Luzira.
He commenced his Baseball journey in primary six, thanks to the encouragement of his coach Patrick Ochola in Luzira, a suburb of Kampala.
“I started to play Baseball in Primary six around 2013 when coach Patrick (Ochola) encouraged me to come and train at Luzira. He also recommended me to the Allen VR Stanley sports School for the bursary. At some stage, my mother stopped me from playing Baseball when a ball hit my eye and was affected severely. However, after recovery, I continued with the sport. I invested a lot of time and did not give up. I thank all my coaches, teammates and everyone around me. This is not something that happens overnight,” he recollects.
Alumai has pitched for the Uganda Baseball national team in Kenya and South Africa.
He has traveled to the USA for different tournaments on four counts.
He was also a member of the Uganda Little League Baseball team that participated in the Little League World Series in 2015.
Will Nolden, the chief scout at Dodgers Academy, is excited about the steadfast progress of Alumai in the Baseball journey.
Nicholas (Alumai) has shown great progress since commenced the game. Just like his partner Isaac Odongo, Nicholas proved that there is a lot of potential and there are several opportunities after him for other youngsters. He will learn from the other players who have grown up in different environments.
Will Nolden, the chief scout at Dodgers Academy
At Allen VR Stanley Sports School, we give the boys and girls an opportunity to take on sports and education. Nicholas Alumai exceled in sports (baseball) and education. He will be enrolling for engineering in the US and we wish him the very best.
Richard Stanley, Proprietor Allen VR Stanley sports School
This is the epitome of this all conversation for the Uganda Baseball and Softball Association. Nicholas Alumai is a vivid product. As he gets to the United States, he will study and play Baseball on a scholarship worth 70,000$ per year for four years. He will play on standard facilities and improve as a player hence boosting our national team as we target qualification to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, US. Currently, Uganda is number two in Africa and we target the summit. This is the icing on the cake. We celebrate all our partners.
Felix Okuye, President of Uganda Baseball and Softball Federation
At Allen VR Stanley sports School, we guide our learners as they enrolled that they must balance sports and academics, as well as discipline. This is how Nicholas Alumai managed to excel and get a scholarship in the United States of America.
Charles Mbidde, head teacher Allen VR Stanley sports School
Success Nicholas Alumai in your new journey.