Kakungulu Memorial School captain Jolly Roy Alimo has revealed how she broke into Uganda’s senior women’s hockey team at just 14 years, breakthrough that came while she was still in the early stages of her secondary school education.The teenager is among the few players to represent their country at senior level while still in secondary school.Her breakthrough did not stop there, as she also joined the Uganda National Hockey League after signing for Wananchi Club.##NAJAVA_MECA_9901535##Now captain of Kakungulu Memorial and Uganda’s junior women’s hockey team, Alimo credits her rapid rise to self-belief, determination and the confidence shown in her by coaches who challenged her to keep improving.Speaking to Mozzart Sport in Morogoro, Tanzania, during the ongoing Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) Games, she admitted that breaking into the senior team was never an easy ride, particularly as she was competing against more experienced players.“It was not easy at all to break into the national team, but I was determined. At that age, I was not that good, but when they called me, I showed interest in the training we got during the league games because I had just joined the Uganda National League,” she explained.Playing league hockey at such a young age exposed her to a more demanding environment, where the physicality and speed were a significant step up from school competition.Rather than being intimidated by the challenge, she used the opportunity to sharpen her game, with one coach urging her to add more power and train harder.“When a coach came and told me, ‘Alimo, you can play, but add more power and train hard’, that determination at a young age made me stronger and stronger in the game,” she added.FEASSSA: How fasting and prayer are propelling St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale towards a first regional titleThe early breakthrough has since developed into an impressive collection of responsibilities and achievements, with the youngster having captained Uganda’s junior national team, led Kakungulu Memorial and featured for KHC Swans in the domestic league.She has also celebrated success at club level, including winning the Uganda hockey league and the domestic cup, experiences that have continued to accelerate her development.Despite her involvement at national and club level, the FEASSSA stage remains particularly special, largely because it brings her face-to-face with Kenyan schools, which she regards as some of her toughest opponents.The competition across the border, she believes, has played a major role in her development because the encounters force her to confront players with different styles, strengths and levels of experience.“It has really given me a nice experience because since I started playing in the East Africa Games, we have been playing against Kenyan teams, so there is quite a hard competition,” she said.The teenager feels the Kenyan challenge provides a learning opportunity that cannot be replicated when playing familiar opponents at home, with every encounter offering a chance to test her progress and pick something new from her opponents.FEASSSA: Green Commandos star reveals how indiscipline nearly ended his football career“When we come into these games and meet the Kenyans, it is not easy at all. They give us a very hard challenge, so that has helped me improve my hockey.I get to meet someone who can play harder, someone who knows something and maybe we are on the same level. I learn something from that person, and they also learn from me, so I have gained a lot from the East Africa Games,” she explained.Kakungulu Memorial have once again proved their credentials at the 2026 FEASSSA Games, reaching the semi-finals after navigating a competitive group campaign with a blend of attacking quality and defensive resilience.FEASSSA 2026: Ng’iya Girls’ goal machine opens up on how hockey talent earned her scholarshipThe Ugandan side opened their campaign with a commanding 5-0 victory over Gayaza High School before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat against former champions Nyamira Girls.Their strong goal difference nevertheless proved crucial as they secured passage to the knockout stage, setting up a semi-final meeting with defending champions St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale.The match presents Kakungulu with an opportunity to move into their maiden FEASSSA hockey final, but for the captain, representing her school carries a different emotional weight from wearing the Ugandan colours.“At FEASSSA, we play for the school as well as Uganda at large, but when you talk about the national team, I am holding the Ugandan badge and flag, which is very different.When I hold the Uganda flag, I have no school behind me; it is me working for my country, so it is something higher,” she said.“With FEASSSA, I am trying to repay the school for the favour they have given me. Personally, I have been on a bursary from Senior One, so I am working for the school as well as myself. When it comes to the national team, I am working for the nation at large.”##NAJAVA_MECA_9901531##Balancing those responsibilities with academics has required discipline, particularly as she prepares for her final year of secondary school.Rather than allowing training, school matches and national team duties to compete for her attention, she has relied on a carefully planned routine.“Balancing education and sports is something that really disturbs sportswomen and sportsmen, but for me, I have my timetable and I programme my activities.I have time for study, and when I put a lot of effort into my studies, there is also time for my personal training, which I do at a particular time. So there is time for books, the field and personal training,” she offered.With her secondary school journey nearing its end, the next chapter is already taking shape.Coming from a family where teaching is a common profession, she intends to continue with higher education while keeping hockey firmly at the centre of her plans.“Academically, I want to go further. I am looking forward to going to university, and I plan to do Business Administration and teaching.Sport-wise, I plan to play hockey at a professional level. I have that in mind, and it keeps me moving,” she revealed.FEASSSA: Yala youngster using football to open doors for forgotten talents back at homeKenya is also part of that dream, with USIU-Africa emerging as her preferred destination because of the friendships she has built there and the quality of hockey she has seen from the university side.“In Kenya, I would like to play for USIU because I have friends there, I have seen them play and it is a nice university,” she said.From breaking into Uganda’s senior team at 14 to becoming a league and cup winner, junior national captain and school skipper, Alimo’s hockey journey has already gathered remarkable momentum.Her ambition now is to turn that early promise into a professional career while continuing to excel in the classroom, with the next stage of that journey potentially taking her across the border.
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