FEASSA Games 2026: Light College’s Semifinal Hopes Hang by a Thread After Bukokholo Defeat

By Kayiira Jackson

Light College Katikamu’s hopes of reaching the FEASSA Games netball semifinals suffered a major setback after they fell 49–41 to Kenya’s Bukokholo in a tense Group A encounter in Morogoro, Tanzania.

Light College started brightly but narrowly trailed 10–9 at the end of the opening quarter. Bukokholo maintained their advantage at halftime, leading 21–19.

The Kenyan side then took control in the third quarter, stretching their lead to 40–29 before completing a 49–41 victory.

The defeat leaves Light College with one win from two matches after their opening 30–24 victory over Tanzania’s Mkolani.

With only one group fixture remaining, against defending champions St Mary’s Boarding Secondary School Kitende on Tuesday, Light College now faces a difficult route to the semifinals.

Kitende’s earlier 77–26 victory over Bukokholo has further complicated the qualification equation. Light College must avoid suffering a heavy defeat against Kitende while also hoping for a favourable result in the remaining Bukokholo versus Mkolani fixture.

Light College coach Ivan Mpoza, however, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the officiating during the defeat.

“I can’t say that my girls made a number of errors that led to our loss. No, it was like a planned move between Tanzanian and Kenyan umpires who officiated our game,” Mpoza said.

Despite the setback, Mpoza insists his team will fight until the end.

“Now our hope to the semifinal has been limited, but we have to give our best against Kitende and wait for the results from Bukokholo vs Mkolani,” he added.

Light College will therefore need both a strong performance against the defending champions and a favourable outcome elsewhere to keep their semifinal dream alive.

Meanwhile, St Noa Girls bounced back from their earlier defeat to Hamdan Islamic with a convincing 51–35 victory over Kenya’s Andersen Mixed in their final group-stage fixture.