The Scrabble Kenya team has arrived in Uganda ahead of the annual East, Central and Southern Africa Scrabble (ECASA) championships set for this weekend in Jinja, Uganda.
The three-day tournament, which starts on Friday, will end on Sunday with each player playing 27 games.
The World warriors, under the chairmanship of Bernard Amuke is optimistic that they will defend the title they won in 2019 after missing both 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus.
Amuke said they have been training well ahead of the tournament after naming a formidable team of 25 players and five reserves during the final qualifying round held last weekend in Eldoret.
“Weshall be leaving the country on Wednesday evening traveling by road to Jinja for the tournament with our main of retaining the title,” said Amuke.
He added that they will take time in Jinja for acclimatization on Thursday before taking to the board on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“We are traveling early so that the scrabblers get enough time to acclimatize the area then we start our matches on Friday where we shall play 10 games, followed by other ten games on Saturday and end with seven games on Sunday and we start our journey back to Kenya, also through the road,” explained Amuke.
However, financial constraints have played a critical part where the players had to dig deep in their pockets to ensure that the Uganda journey is a reality.
“We have depended 100% on well-wishers who are scrabble players and their friends to make this journey a reality. We failed to secure any sponsor for the team but that will not stop us from shining as we have always been each year the regional tournament began,” he said.
Team captain David Machanje said they have the best team and a win will be a great achievement.
“We have the best team this year and we have hope of defending our title. We know Uganda has come out as potential threats but we shall showcase our skills to the maximum,” said Machanje.
Kenya team
Michael Gongolo, Allan Oyende, Tobias Outi, David Kimani, Martins Mutahi Stanley Njoroge, Bernard Koyyoko, Onani Magwanga, Muema Muumbi, Ayub Zande, Tom Mboya, Patrick Miriti, Tarus Kipruto, Richard Okech, Daniel Machanje, Andrew Wabwire, Fred Magu, Joseph Chavutia, Chrispine Kennedy, paul mathuu, Powell Kiplagat, Nicole Achan, Manase Otieno and Kipkemboi Limo.
Scrabble Kenya chairman Bernard Amuke will lead the reserve team made of Joel Birgen, Paul Bosita, Hillary Bushienei and Irungu Wamucii.