Cranes Set to Welcome Kenyan & American Teams in Historic Event
KAMPALA, Uganda – The Uganda Lacrosse Association (ULA), in conjunction with the Kenya Lacrosse Association (KLA) and event sponsors, are excited to announce the details of the first annual East African 7s Lacrosse Championship.
The all-day event will be held Saturday, August 13th, at the Makerere University Rugby Grounds and will feature all of the top club teams in Uganda, including unprecedented visits from the Kenya U-19 boys and girl’s developmental teams.
“This is an event of historic significance for the sport of lacrosse in East Africa,” said Ibrahim Makanda, ULA President. “Having a joint event like this with teams from Kenya brings us one step closer to our vision for an East African Lacrosse Federation.”
The festivities will officially kick-off on Friday with a press conference and welcome dinner at Makerere University for the visiting Kenyan & American teams. This welcome dinner is being sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Lacrosse Ministry. The entire event is being supported by a host of organizations including; FCA Lacrosse, Kelly & Associates Insurance Group, Fields of Growth Intl., Lacrosse Unites and DBA Sports.
“We are honored to help sponsor this event, and are particularly excited about serving the Kenyan teams with a ministry of hospitality,” said Frank Kelly, of FCA Lacrosse and Kelly & Associates Insurance Group, two of the events primary sponsors. “This event is going to be an incredible opportunity to foster international fellowship and friendships through the game of lacrosse.”
The men’s championship, sponsored by FCA Lacrosse, will feature six teams, including four club teams from Uganda, and one each from the USA and Nairobi, Kenya. The women’s championship, sponsored by Kelly & Associates Insurance Group, will feature four teams, including two Ugandan clubs, a squad from the USA, and a team from Mumias in Western Kenya. The youth boys and girl’s championships, sponsored by Fields of Growth, will feature teams from Masaka along with local youth clubs based in Kampala. In addition to the tournament, the event will feature exhibition games between the Uganda and Kenya U-19 developmental teams. These teams will be a compilation of the top young lacrosse players in each respective country.
“The games between Uganda and Kenya, and the international nature of the event have the potential to serve as a catalyst for the growth of lacrosse in East Africa,” said Kevin Dugan of Fields of Growth and the FIL Development Committee. “The collection of sponsors and volunteers from around the world involved in this event is a great reflection of the passion and heart that exists at the core of the lacrosse community.”
The ULA and KLA are hoping the East Africa 7s will become an annual event that sees participation and representation from other East African countries and club teams from around the world. Uganda and Kenya are both members of the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL), the worldwide governing body of the sport of lacrosse. The FIL currently has 55 member nations around the world and runs Word Championship events once every four years at the junior and senior age groups (Male & Female). The FIL is working towards the goal of having lacrosse added as an official Olympic sport. For more information on the FIL and the sport of lacrosse, please visit www.worldlacrosse.sport.
For more information contact:
Media Contact: Douglas Nyakaana, Uganda Lacrosse PR Director
douglasnyakaana@yahoo.com
+256 705 175417
https://www.ugandalacrosse.net/
www.facebook.com/UgandaLacrosseAbout the ULA
The Uganda Lacrosse Association is the sole body that is officially recognized by the Ugandan government sports regulators The National Council of sports (N.C.S) to govern and oversee all lacrosse activities and operations in Uganda. Its mandated primary roles are lacrosse governance, supervision, management, growth and development of the sport in the country. ULA is also the first African country that was sanctioned by the international lacrosse federation in 2011 as a member making it a legitimate lacrosse sports body both nationally and internationally.
