By Isaac Akugizibwe

KIU, Main Campus - KIU Woodball team captain, Tonny Sekyeene, is only a few days away from achieving his lifelong dream of featuring on the Uganda National Woodball team after being selected to represent Uganda at the 2024 Woodball World Cup scheduled for 14th-21 October in China.

It will be a monumental achievement for a boy born in Luweero to make his national team debut at a World Cup event. The excitement would be even greater if Uganda clinches the world title in China.

Sekyeene is joined by another rising star from the accomplished KIU Woodball team, Darry Gilles Amanyire, with whom he recently helped the university secure a silver medal at the 14th edition of the Uganda Woodball Open in Soroti.

With 483 strokes, the 25-year-old came third in the National Team trials, securing his spot on the squad that will be flying to Beijing for the coveted event.

"This is my first time being called up to play on the national team. I could not believe it when I first received the news, though I wasn’t surprised given the hard work I put in," Sekyeene narrates.

"It has always been my dream to play for the national team, right from the time I first held a mallet," he adds.

Sekyeene attributes his call-up to the national team to hard work, self-belief, and the sports scholarship provided by the university.

"I have never been the same since KIU admitted me under the prestigious sports scholarship in 2022. That offer alone forces me to work hard every single day, and it is because of that dedication that I have made it to the national team," he explains.

"I always want to make my university proud but also to uphold the legacy left by legends like the late Watson Mugume, Thomas Kedi, Gwake, and others," he adds.

Nicknamed ‘Tonny Kroos’ for his ability to read games like his football idol, the former Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Tony Kroos, Sekyeene's rise to stardom was also inspired by his leadership role as captain of the KIU team.

"Being captain of a team of KIU's caliber comes with great responsibility. That role compels me to lead by example—not only to help KIU win but also to inspire my teammates and justify my worth," he notes.

"As a student of Human Resource Management, my role on the KIU team gives me the chance to practice part of my profession by managing my teammates," he says.

Woodball remains one of the leading sports at KIU and is reputed for producing national team players whose success stories now serve as a source of inspiration for Sekyeene and his teammates.

However, Sekyeene urges the university administration to increase the number of slots for sports scholarships to attract and maintain highly talented athletes.

"I will use the current woodball team as an example. We have very good players, but some don’t give their best because they are not on scholarship. They are not motivated to balance perfecting their craft with academics," he reveals.

Who is Tonny Sekyeene?

Tonny Sekyeene, alias ‘Tonny Kroos,’ is a finalist student of Human Resource Management at Kampala International University and the captain of the KIU Woodball team.

He was born on June 6, 1999, in Ndejje Kabuye in Luweero District to Ssenkumba Edward and Nnakubulwa Jesca. His guardian is Bunkenddeko Haggai of Ndejje Kabuye, Luweero District.

Sekyeene began his education at Ndejje Junior School from 2003 to 2011 before joining Ndejje Day Vocational Senior Secondary School, where he completed his secondary education (2012 to 2017).

He pursued tertiary education at Bugema University Vocational Institute (2019 to 2021) before joining Kampala International University in 2022 to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management.

Sekyeene’s woodball career began at Ndejje Day Vocational Secondary School, where he first held a mallet. It was then that he started dreaming of becoming an international star something he is now beginning to realize.