Focus On Mental Health As KT Rach Ladies Tourney Return

January 27, 2023
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In Brief:
*What – KT Rach Ladies Basketball Tournament
*When – Sunday, January 29 2023
*Where – YMCA, Wandegeya
*Why – Mental Health Awareness

The KT Rach Ladies Baskeball tournament returns after a two-year hiatus, and the pick-up one-day event will be played this Sunday at YMCA in Wandegeya.

This will be the second edition after the inaugural tourney was held in 2020 at Makerere Pool Side.

Then, as part of their CSR, the players managed to collect and donate items to the Poeima Ministry in Entebbe which helps to provide education and safety to about 50 children.

And as the tournament returns for its second edition, the theme this year is focussed on Mental Health.

All this, is an initiate of Kuliva Racheal (KT Rach), the founder and also the Patron of KT Rach Beyond the Court Basketball.

Rachael Kuliva (far right) with 2020 winners Team Zainah (photos by Tsaubah Stone)

“We want to use this edition to have a direct impact on the quality of mental health of our female basketball athletes,” Kuliva told The-SportsNation.

“It’s a unifying effort by the ladies working together by enabling the passionate and committed team captains and their teammates to create awareness on mental health and its problems.”

Rach, a former player for UCU, KCCA and JKL, says that she found it easier to use Basketball to impact the society.

Ladies and gentlemen, your FEMCEE – Gloria Kyomugisha

“Basketball is a sport I relate with most compared to other sporting disciplines so I’m exploiting and exploring it as an alternative approach, considering what is feasible, by involving the sporting figures,” Rach adds.

“In this case the female basketball players who share the same passion and commitment as me to champion change because I believe we have the potential to make a difference in each other’s life.

“We want to be a youth or fraternity that examines its role by involving ourselves in everyday issues that affect us and exert a positive influence over these issues, use the opportunity to contribute to change and teach ourselves different values such as teamwork and friendship.”

Team Zainah won the 2020 edition after beating Team Mamba in the final. Team Terminator settled for Bronze then.

Abby Priscillar, now based in the United States, was the MVP and top-scorer while Hope Akello took home the best Rebounder gong.

This year’s edition has seen 10 teams register to take part, including defending Champions Team Zainah led by National team Small Forward Zainah Lokwameri.

Lots of prizes, including the Sh3m prize for the winner, is up for stake!

Rach, on challenges faced, explained: “The challenges are rather many. Lack of funds being our biggest, the others are lack of awareness, communication challenges, blending different stakeholders together to support or endorse our cause is challenging as some are not willing to show support or work with us, time management and so many others.”

Notably, there will be a Mental Healthy tent where girls can go for free counselling, among other activities lined up on what promises to be a fun-filled day.