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Strykers Team Uganda Lacrosse
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Getting To Know Uganda Lacrosse: Yunus Tukire

Editor’s Note: The Uganda Lacrosse Union’s Facebook page is chock full of excellent information on the growth of lacrosse in Uganda, and on Fridays, they are going to be introducing the world to another one of their up and coming players. We’re running their story this Friday in the hopes that you will go Like them on Facebook, and support Uganda Lacrosse as they move forward towards Denver 2014!

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Profile Friday: Yunus ‘Brian’ Tukire

Beast; that’s about the closest word one can use to describe this 21 year old, 6’3″, 230 lb middie of pure muscle. The eldest of three boys from the Rukungiri district in western Uganda, Yunus lost both of his parents when he was young and was raised by his grandparents. Currently he’s in his final year of getting his diploma as a land surveyor, and is a graduate of the Kitante Hill School.

yunus_tukire

Brian serves as the captain of the Strykers squad, and led his team to the King’s Cup championship this year. Last summer, in a scrimmage against the American volunteers, which included the likes of All-American and Professional players Chad Wiedmaier and John Christmas, Brian was the lone Ugandan to score, streaking down the middle of the field to put a bounce shot past a current D1 goalie.

uganda_lacrosse

Brian hopes to one day represent Uganda in the World Championships and to continue to spread the sport of lacrosse all across Africa. He plans on constructing an orphanage center and school to educate kids for free, and wants to use the sport of lacrosse to help aid in their development.

Strykers Team Uganda Lacrosse

Brian lives by the motto, “God always first, hard work and patience pays off, and the future belongs to the organized.” He looks to Muhammad Ali as one of his role models in his life, and cites volunteers Jillian Maricondo and Kevin Dugan as inspirational for their “love, passion and ambition towards lacrosse in Uganda.” Brian is undoubtedly the guy to watch in 2014, for both his lightheartedness off the field and his pure determination on it.

Thanks to the ULU for sending this over to us, and we’ll definitely be on the lookout for Yunus Tukire!