Netball: Babirye Kityo Makes Record, Introduces Street Netball in Uganda, Leaves Arua City Amused
Like many in Uganda Netball nicknamed her, the Game Changer, Babirye Kityo Sarah as the Netball Federation President in seven months, she introduced new ideas that came practical in the game.
In December last year, with her team, she held a successful U12 Netball Championship that went viral and the current one is the Street Netball that was launched yesterday in Arua City, in West Nile Region.
Vita Netball Club based in Arua City.
The first edition that was held at Pajulu road next to Local Government Headquarters in Arua City was moving on a theme: “Streets are Never Homes”
The one of it’s kind in Africa in the game of Netball has attracted six teams from different districts that make up West Nile Region and the maiden title was won by Vita Netball Club based in Arua City.
The side has defeated Nebbi Municipal Netball Queens 24-11 on final held at Pajulu road next to Local Government Headquarters in Arua City.
The Street Netball held in Arua was rotating on a theme: Streets are Never Homes for Girl child as the chief Organizer of the tournament and the president of Uganda Netball Federation Hon. Babirye Kityo Sarah explains.
“We held this tournament with that theme, Streets are Never Homes with the aim of informing parents and communities that streets are not homes for our children, it doesn’t matter whether is your kid or not, let’s help the children such that we build a future great nation.” Kityo Sarah said after the successful Tournament.
Babirye adds that they have a lot on their disposal that will see netball grow in the country as well as bringing up the girl child not forgetting searching for more talents from different parts of the country who will make Uganda the no.1 Netball Nation in Africa and World at least.
“The tournament was on short notice but the people of Arua embraced it, loved it, they came in big numbers to watch the the girls play on streets, I can say the event was more of a success.”
” We discovered talents, West Nile is really blessed with talents, we got like 20 girls to whom we are getting bursaries.
This will not end here, we still have a lot on our disposal, we are moving to all parts of the country as we reach on ground for that grassroot development.” She told this website.
Among the big persons in the region who attended and witnessed the talent is the Arua District Woman MP, Hon. Paparu Lillian who embraced the initiative done by the the Netball Federation and she promised to be part of the agenda of helping the girl child not to stop only at this event but to keep engaging with the federation.
The LC. V chairman of Arua District, Hon. Okuonzi Alfred who also doubled as the guest of honor asserted that he is happy that it’s his district that hosted the maiden tournament of Street Netball, he joined the wangle of the President emphasizing that streets are not homes for kids not only girls but also boys.
The chairman goes ahead to say that many talents in Arua, so he is going to working hard to see that the district increase on budget of sports and games.
“I personally witnessed this, it’s one of the kind and happy that it started in my District, we really have talents and I am go try hard to see that the budget for games and sports increases to support these girls and boys, we also need to have our own academies, because Arua must be a hub of talent in West Nile and Uganda at large.” Hon. Okuonzi Alfred side.
The players were overwhelmed and revealed how they are happy of Netball Federation for giving them such opportunity to play Netball on Streets, they thinking they have never heard of.
“We have never heard of this kind of Netball, but we are grateful that Madam president brought it here, we really love the game but we lack such Tournaments and even a league. ” Captain of the winning team Said.
The locals also loved the idea and asked for some more.