MOROGORO, Tanzania — Kawanda Secondary School made an emphatic statement of intent at the 2026 Federation of East Africa Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games, dismantling Tanzania’s Kazima Secondary School 53–20 in their opening girls’ handball fixture.
The commanding victory immediately placed the Ugandan side among the early teams to watch as Kawanda pursue a title they believe can end Kenya’s grip on regional girls’ handball.
Kawanda controlled the contest from the outset, combining defensive discipline with ruthless finishing to leave Kazima struggling to cope with their intensity.
For coach Isma Bazanya, the result was a reflection of a team that executed its instructions with composure and punished virtually every error presented by the Tanzanian hosts.
“It was a physical contest, but the girls stood firm and left nothing to chance. They ensured our opponents had very few opportunities to face the goal,” Bazanya said.
The Ugandan coach was particularly pleased with the manner in which his players turned defensive pressure into goals, repeatedly exploiting gaps whenever Kazima surrendered possession or made mistakes.
“Whenever our opponents made the slightest mistake, the Kawanda girls were quick to punish them by turning those opportunities into goals. The game plan was executed as intended.”
Despite the imposing margin of victory, Bazanya was quick to temper expectations, stressing that Kawanda’s immediate priority is to negotiate the group stage before turning their attention to the championship.
“We are pleased with today’s victory, but our immediate priority is to get through the group stage.
The girls are highly determined, and this year, our target is to bring the handball trophy back to Uganda.”
With the opening hurdle cleared in emphatic fashion, Kawanda have given themselves an ideal platform to challenge the established regional order—and their message could hardly have been clearer: they have come to Morogoro for business and, ultimately, the trophy.
