Heroes' welcome for Kitende after winning the CECAFA Zonal CAF African Schools Championship

Following their triumph at the CECAFA Zonal CAF African Schools Championship in Kenya, St. Mary's Secondary School Kitende (SMASK) has touched base in the country.

The Ugandan representatives in the boys' category edged Tanzania 4-2 via post-match penalties after the game had ended in a one-all stalemate to win the trophy.

In winning the title, Kitende pocketed a massive USD.100,000 (about 370 million shillings) and also qualified for the CAF African Schools Championship slated for 2024.

And, on return to Uganda on Saturday, they received a massive welcome at the school premises in Kitende.

They were welcomed by the Assistant Executive Director Claire Mulindwa and a host of other administrators.

Each team member was then awarded a 32-inch flat screen and cash as a token of appreciation for work well done.

It should be noted that Kitende picked five wins in as many games in the group before emerging as the regional champions in the final past Tanzania.

They beat each of Somalia, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania to lead the table before defeating the latter again.

In just the second year of the tournament, Ugandan teams in the boys' category have emerged as regional champions and thus represented CECAFA in the continent.

Last year, Royal Giants High School clinched the CECAFA title, representing Uganda and the entire CECAFA region.

Meanwhile, Kawempe Muslim clinched the championship in the girls' end after defeating Kenya on Wednesday.

Having bagged USD 100,000 and CAF qualification, they also returned to the country to the massive applause of the school administrators, parents, and supporters.