Kenya will battle Uganda next Saturday for a single slot to represent Africa at the men’s World Lacrosse Championships in San Diego, USA next year.
The match to be held at Kenton College in Kileleshwa, Nairobi is a must-win for either team if they are to earn the sole slot to represent Africa at the world show between June 21 to July 1 in the USA.
Experienced Uganda have represented Africa in two World Cups (2014 and 2018) but Kenya are expected to take advantage of the home ground to qualify for their first-ever global show.
Kenya Lacrosse founder and men’s national team assistant manager, Storm Trentham, said the qualifier will be good for the two nations as the winner takes it all.
“We only have three nations in Africa, who are members of the Federation of International Lacrosse. They include Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana,” said Trentham.
The United Kingdom-based official added that the sport is new across the world and especially in Africa, particularly Kenya.
“Uganda have played in two World Cups and have experienced players while many players in Kenya are upcoming and drawn from Eldoret, Nakuru and parts of Nairobi,” she said.
She added that initially, Uganda used to get a direct ticket from Africa to the world Cup but with the arrival of Kenya, things have changed.
Ugandans are expected in the country on Thursday ahead of the match and a clinic to sensitize the locals about the new sport will be held on Sunday.
Lacrosse was introduced in Uganda in 2010 at Makerere University, making East Africa country the 40th member of the Federation of International Lacrosse and the first in Africa.
