Kitgum|A 26-year-old Busoga United player, Okema Thomas, has been crowned the winner of the Penalty Challenge Competition organized by Champion Bet Uganda.
The challenge was organised by the betting company over the weekend at Kitgum Bomah grounds in Kitgum Municipality.
Okema, who plays for Busoga United Football Club, took home a cash prize of shs500,000 after beating 178 competitors in the challenge held on Saturday.
Odong Denis secured second place, winning shs300,000, while Kilama Patrick and Comboni Daniel emerged in third and fourth positions respectively, each receiving shs150,000.
Players who finished in fifth to eighth positions were awarded 12,500 and 33,000 in gaming points to be used on Champion Bet Uganda’s platform. The ninth and tenth place winners received 32,000 gaming points.
Denis Indani, the Marketing Manager of Champion Bet Uganda based in Kampala, said the event was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility initiative to engage and give back to local communities.
Indani explained that the idea for the challenge was inspired by global football fans’ frequent criticism of players from top English clubs such as Arsenal and Manchester United for missing penalties.
Champion Bet Uganda launched the Penalty Challenge to celebrate local talent and promote sports in Uganda, beginning with events in Paidha (West Nile sub-region) and Kitgum (Acholi sub-region).
He further stated that the initiative would continue in other parts of the country, reinforcing the company’s commitment to community involvement.
Cecilek, Director at Champion Bet Uganda, emphasized that the aim of organizing the challenge is to connect football and other sports across Uganda.
“This is just the beginning. We want to bring sports closer to our customers and communities, not just in Kitgum and Paidha, but in every sub-region of Uganda,” he said.
Winner Okema Thomas expressed his excitement after the victory and encouraged fellow football lovers to view sports as a meaningful and hopeful pursuit in life.
Okema began his football journey in school before joining the Kitgum team in 2020. In the 2018–2019 season, he played for Soroti Football Club, later joining Soroti Thunder in 2021–2022.
In 2022, he moved to Aputon Football Club in Soroti City before finally joining Busoga United.
Champion Bet Uganda is one of the country’s leading sports entertainment brands, regulated by the Uganda Gaming and Regulatory Authority.
Discover more from tndNews, Uganda
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.