Meet one of the bronze medallists, who returned home from Brazil carrying high the Most Valuable Player trophy.
For an athlete to receive the Most Valuable Player award at an international competition, one would think they would have practiced their sport all their life, honing their skills, mastering their craft to become one of the best among their peers at the highest level.
Not so for Uganda’s Tracy Namugosa, the standout star at this year’s FISU University World Cup 3×3 Basketball, who took up the sport just six years ago, and not on her own accord.
“I only started playing basketball when I was 19 years old, at St. Noa Girls’ Secondary School Zana,” starts the 25-year-old-Business Administration student. “I was awarded a netball and volleyball scholarship, but because our school wasn’t performing well, it was decided that volleyball would be removed from the sports programme! Everyone naturally thought I’d then concentrate on netball, but because of the tough competition in the netball team, I decided to try out basketball. It was a bold decision, but just a few months later, I lifted a trophy with my inter-class team, and decided to pursue this new sport instead, dedicating my time to it and receiving one-on-one training sessions with the coaches after they saw my potential.”
By the end of the year, Tracy had made the school’s senior team, helping them to victory in the Federation of East African Secondary Schools Association tournament – involving the best four schools in every country in East Africa – as the top scorer.
Two successful blows
With her career trajectory on the rise, Tracy received two blows in quick succession soon after concluding her school career: she failed try-outs at Uganda Christian University in early 2020, and was asked to join a team in a lower division to gain experience. Three games into the season, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, with access to basketball courts across the country restricted for the following two years.
Pictures from Tracy Namugosa's own album
Following the lengthy lay-off however, Tracy received an invitation to join the university team as soon as training re-commenced, and with her natural talent shining through, she worked her way into the team’s starting five the following year.
A valuable learning experience
In 2024, she was selected to represent her university at the FASU Games, earning gold and qualification to the FISU University World Cup 3X3 Basketball in Xiamen, China, which turned out to be a valuable learning experience ahead of this year’s edition in Brazil.
“In Xiamen, we lost all the games we played, forcing us to come back and work harder,” Tracy says. “Amongst the four players that featured last year, I was the only one who remained in the team that travelled to Brazil this year, so I knew the expectations and what was required at this international level.”
Acting as the team’s leader this time around, Tracy shone bright for Uganda Christian University, dismissing their underdog tag by making a historic charge to the final four, coming up short by just one point in the semi-finals before securing a well-deserved third place on the final day of competition.
“We played the tournament as under dogs because no one expected us to win any of our games like last year, but personally, I had a strong belief in my team,” she says. “We knew our capabilities and strengths, so we decided to play for each other. This kept us as a unit, hence making it to the semi-finals for the first time ever. This was a great achievement, and we were so proud of ourselves since this had never happened before.”
Not only did Tracy leave Brazil with a bronze medal around her neck, but the tournament’s MVP trophy as well, with the 25-year-old barely believing what she had achieved.
An achievement for her and for Africa
“When I was voted as the MVP of the tournament, I was overwhelmed with happiness!” she smiles. “One of my most memorable moments was when I made a shot on the buzzer in the third-place play-off, and everyone in the crowd started shouting ‘MVP, MVP!’ before I even received the award! “I was speechless when I received the trophy because I had prayed and worked hard, aiming to be one of the best shooters, but God had bigger plans, as I made history by becoming the first African female student to receive the 3×3 MVP award. It was a very big achievement for me and Africa as a continent.”
Speaking of her home continent, Tracy beams with pride at African teams’ success on the international stage, following Ghana’s University for Development Studies’ victory in September’s FISU University World Cup Football.
“I feel so happy to see African teams excel in FISU tournaments because they are often treated as under dogs, with hardly any expectation for them to win a match, and with far less facilities and resources available, compared to other teams. When an African team excels and puts the continent on map, it makes me proud and happy because it creates better opportunities for the upcoming talented students from Africa in the world of sports.”
Looking out for the next generation is something close to Tracy’s heart, with the Business Administration student – when not on in class or on the court – using her time to develop the stars of the future.
“I currently work as a coach at Heritage International School for U-11 and U-13 girls in the International Schools Association of Kampala (ISSAK) league,” she says. “My goal is to inspire more young girls and boys to play sports, regardless of the discipline, and follow their dreams.”
And Tracy is already looking to the future, hoping to make a concrete, long-lasting impact on the lives of the youth in Uganda.
“I want to use my degree to run personal businesses to fund the various basketball projects I wish to start up,” she states.
A role model on the court
A role model both on and off the court, Tracy can certainly be proud of her achievements thus far, as she aims to be an inspiration for many others to follow suit.
Written by Fabio De Dominicis
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