TRT News

TRT Graduate and Young Leader Asha wins USPA Award for “Top Female Rugby Player 2011″

on Jan 11 in Events, News, Uganda tagged by Martin TRT

By Dorothy Nekesa

Eighteen year old Asha Nakityo, a Rugby player with Thunderbirds women’s club and Lady Cranes National team, has just scooped the prestigious USPA (Uganda Sports Press Assoc) award for “Top Female Rugby Player 2011″.

Speaking to local media she said she owes her success to the Tag Rugby Trust Nursery that has uplifted her as well as Kyadondo Rugby club home for the programme that has made her a champion. “I dont want to talk a lot because this is just a journey started, you can only take a breather after reaching your final destination” the little chicky youngster joked.

I started playing Rugby in the Kyadondo Tag Rugby Nursery at the age of 14 when the Trust took on enrolling secondary school girls to enable them have a soft landing into Schools rugby. I played tag for some years while studying the senior players, after a while l graduated to playing mini contact and will say three years in the Nursery were fruitful, I now coach Tag Rugby kids at the club and help with the ground facility work to earn part of my tuition at Kyambogo college”.

Growing in ranks Asha was summoned on the U-19 team in 2010 although the squad did not progress far her skill was exploding and got her invited as a junior in the Thunderbirds 15′s backline emerging top scorer for the League and 10′s. The 2011 achievement for the youngster is just one way of helping her shapen her edge.

“When l was called for trials before the Re-union 7′s l did not put much hope into selection as l was playing alongside experienced players, but making the list opened my eyes. I scored 7 trys at the Re-union and five trys at the Botswana Confederation of African Rugby prequalifier tournament with various assists to our top scorers l did help Uganda qualify for Morocco World Cup Qualifiers in September this year.

Now an S6 candidate Asha spends most of her time training, coaching kids and juggling this with her education. The youngster told the local media to use their platform tool to enlighten and encourage stakeholders to support tag rugby programs that have groomed skillful Rugby players ready to take the game to the next level. The bright young girl also asked sports Federations to encourage young Athletes out there to use their talent the right way to benefit others through inspiration and volunteering.

Asha thanked USPA for their catchful eye that also rewards outstanding junior talent encouraging them to compete alongside senior’s experience.

The other TRT graduates and youngleaders who were promoted to senior teams are:
From Stallions to Buffaloes
1. Phillip Wokorach
2. Alfred Bijik
3. Saidi Atibu
4. Onen Charles
5. Henry Musisi

They had a trial game against Heathens last weekend quite impressive scoring 14-15, Buffaloes is now a very strong team to watch with Tag Rugby youngleaders boosting it.