Written By | Alex Mbamanya
Rines became champions for the first time
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Wakiso
Boni Consilii Girls Vocational Kyabirikwa football team manager Primus Ngabirano has brushed aside their 3-0 defeat to Rines in the USSSA girls' football final at Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium on Friday, instead choosing to celebrate the team's positive progress with a masterclass in resilience.
Ngabirano drew confidence from the fact that the Isingiro-based side was playing in their first-ever final in the national secondary schools girls' football history, having overcome giants en route to the championship match.
Having won bronze last year at only their third national appearance, the silver medal is what they will take as a project in progress.
"We are happy with the second position and the silver medal because we have set targets every year and we have progressively accomplished them. You will remember that we have lost to St Noa several times, but this year we set ourselves to go past that hurdle. When that happened, we were now looking at the title, but this was after the set target had been achieved. We shall go back home with our heads high and come back next year with another, better target," said Ngabirano.
Boni Consilii settled for their first ever silver in the nactional championship
Patricia Nakato's penalty in added time of the first half opened the doors for the new champions, Rines. When Trina Nakawuki and eventual MVP Justine Ayerango slotted home in the second half, it was all but finished business for the Wakiso district champions.
Boni Consilii coach Brenda Nassozi missed out on becoming the first-ever Uganda secondary schools girls' football champion as both a coach and a player — having lost with Mukono High in the 2017 championship in Kabale — but she still believes.
"I am happy for the team and the entire management for the support and the great work. The record is still at large, but I still believe because this is a special group of girls with whom we shall reach the podium together," she said.
Action between Rines (black) and Boni Consilii
Having seen off Amus College 3-0 on penalties following a 0-0 draw in normal time, Rines battled against Boni Consilii — who reached their first-ever final following a 3-2 penalty shootout victory over last year's winners, St Noa — and eventually won 3-0.
The four teams — Rines, Boni Consilii, St Noa, and Amus College — qualified to represent Uganda at the FEASSA Games, scheduled for 12–23 August in Morogoro, Tanzania.
