My First ECASA

Is Ironman Mr. Gigaton coming? Will Dr. Gongolo be there? What about the Dancing Rasta Mr. Mbugua? These were the questions doing rounds in the villages of Mbarara, Soroti, Lira, and of course, the capital Kampala. My local audience will inquire why the people of Uganda are asking about Kenyans? Let me begin by making things clear, this is another Scrabble adventure, and we are soaring into the lands of Hills. After a break brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the regional tournament, East Central and Southern Africa Scrabble Association tournament, is back. And there was no better place to host the Championship than Jinja, the city that gives life to the Nile.

But before we go to Uganda, let me take you to Eldoret; team Kenya is holding their last qualifier to select the team for Uganda. After terribly bad performances in Kisumu and Kitui, the psych to attend the Eldoret tournament was down, but the incentive to qualify for the regional tournament was tempting. Then it was revealed to me that I had one foot on the team by just showing up. I was in Eldoret, ready for the task. I probably played my best Scrabble save for the time I lifted the intermediate category trophy. My Eldoret story can only be narrated by the Scrabble Kenya President Mr. Benard Amuke, the African Tournament Director Dr. Muumbi Muema, the first National Champion Mr. Onani Magwanga, Ukunda's finest Mr. Auka, and not forgetting Kitale-born, Mr. Zande. At the end of day two, I was leaving Gulab Lochab head up and ndaani ndaani ya team Kenya. The responsibility at hand is not an easy one, I am representing the 50 million+ Kenyans, and the pride of my flag and my own is at stake going into Uganda. The beautiful Ms. Alyek Linda had organized the amazing Baganda dancers awaiting our arrival at Entebbe Airport. However, it was the Zambian team who enjoyed the treat, I had to stay mysterious, and Busia's entry point was my way the blue stripped matatu was something I wanted experience too. The reception in Uganda was terrific, and I now understand why American singers French Montana and Swae Lee chose Uganda for their hit single Unforgettable. This is going to be a fantastic Easter weekend. Everyone asks if I brought the fedora hat along, but the answer is no. My Patron, President Museveni, is in the country, and it will not be okay to wear a similar hat when he is around, so sacrifices had to be made. Three teams are out to battle it for the ultimate prize and pride, being regional champions. Team Uganda after a year of grizzly qualifiers had put forward their best team captained by the Drug Lord Mr. Chris Ntege; what a choice. Team Zambia, commanded by General Mpundu, was present and ready to enjoy the beautiful game and the land of Uganda. Team Kenya went ahead and chose a professor as their captain. Mr. Machanje Dan, from the outside, he looks small, but he has a big heart and wisdom to keep these players together. Some players are missing, Phillip Edwin-Mugisha is not on the rosters, and the Acacia duo of Dr. Gongolo and Counsel Koyokko did not make the trip. The fans would have been entertained beyond if the three were added to the already charged rosters. It will be 1350 minutes of Scrabble, and players need to be in shape physically and mentally for the three days. The hosts did not disappoint; the Source of the Nile Hotel is well-positioned; just a walking distance from the beautiful shores of Lake Victoria meant the players could go and sermon the gods when things got tough. Very early in the tournament, and the first upset was witnessed in round two, Dr. Ntege is held up high with ululations by team Uganda as he presents his win against the Gigaton. The Drug Lord went on seven games losing streak after that triumphant victory. "Go apologize," he was advised. There were whispers in the common room at lunch break that team Kenya was not in the lead; there was no Kenyan in the top 5. These are not usual moments; Kenya had to regroup. Day 1 ends, and the Zambian Captain, Mpundu Patrick, leads the pack. Are we headed for an upset? Scrabble is an exciting game, and you do not know when the tables can turn. Playing for country and self almost brings a different feeling. It is the first time, at least for me, representing my country in anything, and it is so much pressure even though I am not sure my country knows I made the trip. The development of games and sports in our part of the world is yet to reach particular standards as governments rarely invest in some other games. In the room, all you could see were passionate individuals who were willing to sacrifice some of their savings and play the game they liked. You will have to applaud Uganda's ministry in charge of sports for being part and even sending a representative during the awarding ceremony. BOO!! BOO!! Chrispine, your story is getting boring; we came here to read about the winners of ECASA and not how badly sports and games are managed in your country, BOO!! Here are the best Scrabble players in East Africa; Njoroge Stanley is sad that he has only managed 10^th. Guest player Alvin Roberts surprised many, he is hardly in the region for a year, and he was flexing muscles with a debut finish of 9^th. I guess his paisanos in Freetown are jubilant. Mutahi Martins is 8^th, and he is delighted to secure a prize bracket in Uganda after several attempts. At position seven is a young Ugandan, Ivan Sentogo; throughout the tournament could be noticed with his characteristic dark sunglasses and a bucket hat that he was threatening guys with on day 1. Outi Tobias, we all knew he would cause trouble in the top pack, but this time around, he is happy with sixth. Not bad for the soft-spoken but ruthless guy on the board. After a two-year break from tournament Scrabble, you would not expect someone to threaten top tables. Yes, you are correct; unless that person is ironman Nderitu Gitonga, the defending ECASA champ is fifth. Hats off; he played exceptionally well. My people, the number four player, is not human; throughout the tournament, I avoided eye contact; it is said that staring into his eyes elicits the burning sensation you get from staring straight into the sun. The legends have it that he named himself Lion of Arua just 5 minutes after his delivery, and the parents complied. This player at position three is one interesting person, and in the three days I spent around him, I discovered a lot that will not be mentioned today. He had the blessings of his countrymen to stop the Kenyans. Daktari Edgar Odongkara only managed third, but he is very proud of the troubles he caused, almost spoiling the party for the Kenyan contingency. The number 2 player was not even initially in the Kenyan team but among the reserves. If we had bookmakers, they would have probably given him 500/1 chances of finishing in the top 3. Still, Wachira Francis, as unpredictable as he has always been, emerged second, troubling the winner throughout day 3. The 2022 ECASA winner is Allan Oyende; he had a tournament of his life; he acknowledged it was not easy in his speech. This guy is on fire, I need a whole book to describe his play.

I know fans are asking why my name is not mentioned in the top ten; of course, that was the plan, to come and win, but some things happened; first, I was shocked I was going to play for three days; my body was not ready. Ladies and gentlemen, how can I finish in the top ten when; I miss an outplay of CRUMBIER (106) vs. Isaac Mwape. How do you get to the top 10 when Kagiri Don Elijah plays a nine-letter out-play of BURGANETS against you? Getting top ten is even complicated when you play the blocky Saali Stephen. When you get Q-stuck against Assumpta, Levy Moonga playing REPINES (97) and PILOTMEN (91), two last moves to snatch a lead from you? One is not worthy of the top 10 if, in a whole game, they average 21 points per move, as I did in round twenty. What about giving Zande Ayub his only win of day 3? It was a great experience playing, and I came back with 27 lessons that will help as I prepare for the next ECASA.

When all ended, the visitors left Uganda, but some had a lot of questions going back home. Team Zambia could not understand what went wrong; their best only managing a distance 15^th. They go back trembling with the African Championship looming in mind. They are the hosts and are afraid of a possible bloodbath in their backyard. "Nigeria is coming for us." Said Mulele Julius as he sipped the last drop of Nile. Others like Kimani David left contemplating if they should continue playing this game or switch to less-demanding games like shotput, judo, and kabaddi. After the podium finishes in his last two visits in Uganda, he was in unfamiliar territory. But the biggest question that will be the highlight of the ECASA 2022 edition was the letter J. Yes, Jinja is a name full of J, a couple of J bingos were played, but the J in question was at table 10, round 26. How did it leave the bag? Was it a foul play? Was the J even in the bag from the beginning?