Over 40 schools are expected to participate in the Kateregga memorial schools championship scheduled for February 27- March 1st at the Lugogo arena.
The championship is named after the late Francis Kateregga, who remains one of Uganda’s greatest table tennis players.
Kateregga is fondly remembered for winning a bronze medal at the 1995 All Africa Games held in Zimbabwe.
It is on this note that the Uganda table tennis leadership has named the revived schools championship after the late Kateregga who passed away in 1997.
James Kiyimba, who played alongside Kateregga, remembers the exceptional talent the late held.
“He was very talented. Even if he comes back today, he can challenge everybody on the national team. He had everything, all the wings, the footwork, the backfoot and everything. Yu wulf think that he went through an academy,” remembers Kiymba.
Table tennis was a dominant sport in schools such as St. Henry’s Kitovu, Namilyango College, Makerere College School, among others.
This is what has inspired the current Uganda Table Tennis Association to revive the competition after ten years.
“It is in the remembrance of a very special talent called Kateregga. He was a young player whose game was considered one of the best,” revealed Uganda table tennis association President Cyrus Muwanga.
Schools have started registering for the championship to be held in honour of the late Kateregga.
“Any school that has table tennis as a sport is invited. We shall have a section of primary and secondary schools and a section of universities,” explained Muwanga.
Kiyimba is happy that the pioneers of the sport are remembered, which will go a long way in motivating young talents.
“In Uganda table tennis is not very big but we have had outstanding players and having a tournament named after one inspired the young generation,”
Teenage Joseph Ssebatindira is the most prominent Ugandan star currently, having achieved globally at a tender age. He has already drawn comparisons with former top players.
“I can see Sebatindira is in the footsteps of Kateregga also the latter has an exception in footwork,” Kiyimba analysed.
Muwanga says that efforts are underway to restore the sport to its former glory with much expected.
