Wasswa Aslam Balikandda will become the third Ugandan junior referee to officiate at the CAF African schools football championship following his selection for this year’s tournament that is underway starting this Wednesday, April 23rd till 26th in Ghana.
The student at Rays of Grace academy in Kirugu-Njeru, Buikwe district, was picked as the center referee for the fierce game between Algeria and South Africa on the opening day.
“We are happy with the holistic development of our players and students at Rays of Grace academy. This is what we mean by full development of a player. We consider a student’s talent, time after active sports and academic excellence. It is why the academy is within the school,” noted Roberts Kiwanuka, the Rays of Grace academy director.
Wasswa’s milestone follows in the footsteps of 17-year-old Jabeth Elly Ojilong, a student at Amus College who officiated at last year’s tournament in Zanzibar.
Jackie Nambasa of Uganda Martyrs was the country’s first official at the inaugural tournament.
Rays of Grace academy has been a hub of top talents in all aspects.
The inaugural Odilo cup winners also let their Coach Michael Kabali join Uganda’s Boys football representatives at this year’s edition, St Mary’s SS-Kitende as their coach, and he is leading the side in Ghana.
The academy also had two players; Arafat Nkoola and Simon Wanyama at the Uganda Cubs team that qualified for the U17 World Cup – becoming the first ever Uganda football team at the global stage.
Wanyama opened the scoring for Uganda in the 3-0 win against Tanzania as the Uganda Cubs bounced back from a 5-0 opening loss to Morocco for their first win at the AFCON U17 in Morocco.
