Cecafa General Secretary Nicholas Musonye (right) on arrival in Al Fashir City, North Darfur State on Friday afternoon. The Cecafa delegation was received at the Airport by several government officials led by the State Minister of Finance Dr. Abdu Daod Suleiman (left in glasses). The Cecafa delegation is in Sudan to assess the country’s readiness in hosting the Regional Club Championship.
Cecafa General Secretary Nicholas Musonye has disclosed that two regional affiliates Ethiopia and Eritrea will have no representatives in this year’s Kagame Cecafa Club championship due in Sudan starting mid June.
The reasons for the drastic withdraw of the two member associations from this annual tournament remains a mystery. The development sees three key Ugandan players denied a chance to participate in this year’s historical and competitive event. Sudan (North Darfur State) will host the event.
Cranes striker and 2012 Cecafa-Tusker Challenge Cup top scorer Robert Ssentongo, goal keeper Robert Odongokara and Cranes defender Isaac Isinde will all miss out in Sudan. The trio features for St. George FC who have opted out of the tournament.
Musonye made the revelation this Monday afternoon while meeting journalists at Taka Hotel in Khartoum City. Tanzania will have both Simba and Young SC in the tournament. Young SC are the defending champions. Sudanese duo giants El Merriekh and Al Hilal are among the other confirmed participants.
The full list of confirmed clubs are: El Merriekh (Sudan), APR (Rwanda), Simba (Tanzania Mainland), Elman (Somalia), Al Hilal (Sudan), Tusker (Tusker), El Nasr (South Sudan), Super Falcons (Zanzibar), Young Africans (Tanzania Mainland) – Defending champs, Express (Uganda), Vital’O (Burundi) and Ports (Djibouti).
Cecafa General Secretary Nicholas Musonye being received at Al Fashir Airport by the State Minister for Finance Dr. Abdu Doad Sulaiman on Friday afternoon. The delegation is in Sudan to access the readiness of the country in hosting this year’s Kagame Cup.
This year’s Cecafa Kagame Club Championship will almost certainly take place in Darfur, Sudan after official inspectors were encouraged by the efforts of the people and facilities at El Fashir City, the biggest in North Darfur State.
Another Sudan State, South Kordofan, also hopes to host some of the group matches. Cecafa [Council of East and Central African Football Associations] officials will visit the city of Kadogly on Tuesday to see whether it is a suitable co-host of the 14-team event.
The council Secretary General, Nicholas Musonye, said in Al Fashir City on Sunday, that Darfur was 90% ready to host the event, but for only two of the three groups.
Two football stadiums in Al Fashir – Al Nuggaa [capacity 10,000] and Al Fashir [15,000] – were of impressive quality and so were hotel accommodation and transport and security capabilities.
“But,” Musonye said, “training pitches are a challenge. The hosts will try and make that better by the time of the event.”
The Sudan Football Association [SFA] administration based in Khartoum has given full support to far-flung states hosting international sport for the first time and there is a whole-hearted dedication by the Governor of North Darfur to pull off a sports hosting quite unprecedented.
Governor Osman Mohamed Yousuf Kibir was out of the country but his deputy, Al Fatih Abdulaziz Abdulnadir assured Cecafa of maximum attention to the championship.
A local organizing committee headed by State Minister for Finance and Civil Services, Dr Abdu Daod, briefed Cecafa official on advanced planning of the tournament.
First impressions about Darfur, a place not open to most of the rest of the world, were of a population that loves sport and football, volleyball and basketball games by ordinary Darfurians and also very present military are played in every corner of Al Fashir.
The enthusiasm and abundant playing space surpasses many other places in East and Central Africa.
Deputy Governor Abdulnadir said peace and security in Darfur long returned to the state after years of strife and that the state was ready to receive visitors.
“We have already hosted a large American delegation in North Darfur and the Federal Government in Khartoum, after observing that, have confidence in our security abilities.”
Cecafa have sent out invitation to all the 12 affiliates to confirm their participants. Musonye said the confirmed guests were Democratic Republic of Congo team St Eloi Lupopo of Lubumbashi.
Cecafa participants will be: Young Africans – (defending champions), Simba (Tanzania Mainland), Zanzibar representatives, El Merriekh, Al Hilal (Sudan),Tusker (Kenya), Express (Uganda), APR (Rwanda), Vital’O (Burundi), Ports (Djibouti), Elman (Somalia), South Sudan representative and St George (Ethiopia). Eritrea have not confirmed an entry.
The elections will be conducted in compliance with the new FUFA statutes adopted in Kampala in August 2012 in presence of the FIFA and CAF delegates
The FUFA Electoral commission has released the dates for the elections of office bearers at different football administrative levels.
Saturday May 11th has been earmarked for the election of the District Football Association executive committees and the two district delegates to the regional level. All interest groups (Coaches, Referees, Women and Players) will conduct their elections on May 18.
May 25th has been reserved for the same exercise at regional levels. This will see the Regional Executive Committees elected together with the six delegates to the National FUFA General Assembly. One of these delegates MUST be a representative of the Regional League Clubs.
The Electoral Commission chaired by Mr. Patrick Okanya with a Makerere University Don, Prof. Vincent Ssajjabbi as his deputy will hold a press conference on Monday, May 29 to give a detailed program.
URA will play this year’s quarter finals without some of their key players like Robert Sentongo who is currently in Ethiopia.
The draws for the Round of 8 of the Uganda Cup 2013 conducted at the Federation headquarters today have seen FUFA Super League current table leaders KCC drawing against their archrivals, Vipers FC.
Vipers who are currently placed second on the FSL table will host KCC at Buikwe Ground on Friday, 26th April 2013. In another anticipated quarter final thriller, defending champions URA FC face stubborn Entebbe FC on Tuesday 14th May this year.
The winner between Victoria University and Kira Young FC will host Bright Stars FC at Namboole stadium on Tuesday April 30th while surprise quarter finalists Kamwokya United battles army side Simba SC at a venue yet to be communicated by the Competitions committee.
The first leg of the semi finals are slated for May 14th and 17th. Meanwhile this year’s Finals will be played in Masindi Municipal Stadium, Kitara Region on Sunday May 26th.
The FUFA president Mr. Lawrence Mulindwa (left) has offered cash prizes to the winners of Wakiso 4th Division League
As we head closer to Wakiso 4th Division League climax, men are being separated from boys as the search for the league champion intensifies. The district league competitions committee passed out verdicts on a number of pending cases and below is the detailed report.
1.Migadde Highway FC was disqualified from the Wakiso 4th Division League for failure to honour three (3) matches this season against Manyago (in the first round),Kataka & Kitende. Their second round results were nullified however, according to the regulations, the first round results stand since they played 50% of the matches.
2. Match no 108- Kataka FC officials protested the referees decision by walking their team off the pitch with a few minutes to the end of the game hence Kataka FC forfeited the match points.
3. Match no 113 – Lufuka didn’t show up for the match against Kitende. Interestingly one of their officials appeared at the field & filled the referees report with his players’ names. However, when time for inspection came, the listed players were not available thus Kitende were awarded the points.
4. Match no 124 – Entebbe United arrived late for their home match against Wakiso Youth. By the time referees finished the players’ inspection, time couldn’t allow the game to take place. Wakiso Youth were also awarded the points for that match.
5. Match no 138 – KB Lions Vs Kataka, KB Lions arrived late for this engagement thus forfeiting the match.
6. Match no 141 – Kitende Vs KB Lions, This match was abandoned with 14 minutes remaining after both teams failed to get an alternative ball to play. The original one had been deliberately hit by a KB Lions player in the nearby gate when Kitende was leading 1-0, the ball was never recovered leading the referees to abandoning the match. The match will thus be re played for only the remaining 14 minutes on Tuesday 23 April 2013 at Kitende with the same set of referees who were initially appointed to officiate it. The match will also go on with the same players who were on the pitch.
7. Match no 157 – Kira Vs KB Lions The visiting team (KB Lions) failed to show up for this engagement hence forfeiting the match with a 3-0 margin score to Kira FC.
Next round of matches resume tomorrow Thursday 18th April 2013 at various grounds as listed below.
Ebenezer Tanda Vs Manyago at Ebb Tanda
KB Lions vs Lufuka at Kajjansi
Namugongo Janda Vs Kira at Namugongo
Kyaliwajjala Vs Nsangi Youth at Namugongo Boys
Gayaza United Vs Kitende at Gayaza
Wakiso Youth Vs Kataka at Wakiso
All matches kick off at 4:30pm
Mugerwa Hakim of Kira FC is leading the scorers chart with 15 goals closely followed by Mustapha Hast of Wakiso Youth who has 10 goals, Mukasa Bonny of Kataka, Kayondo Mike of Lufuka and Kisitu Augustine of Gayaza are all tied in the third place with 8 goals each.
Prizes at stake
Champion – UGX 4m,Gold Medals & a trophy
Runners Up – UGX 2 m
Third placed – UGX 1m
Fourth Placed – UGX 0.5 m
The above prizes were offered by the FUFA president who also happens to be Wakiso’s delegate to the Fufa General Assembly.
FUFA President Mr. Lawrence Mulindwa has this Wednesday handed over a total of 3000 balls to the Federation Competitions committee for distribution to lower division leagues.
Thirteen (13) FUFA Zonal chairpersons walked off with balls matching the number of the 4th Division (Formerly referred to as the 1st Division) clubs in their respective areas of jurisdictions. The regional chairpersons too, received the balls for the clubs in the eight FUFA Regional Leagues.
Addressing the Zonal chairpersons before receiving the balls, Mulindwa urged the members of his executive committee to ensure that the balls reach the targeted recipients on schedule.
This year alone, 634 District League clubs have benefited from this annual arrangement that has seen over 10.000 balls given out to clubs in the last four years.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) hereby informs the public that a notice of termination of contract has this Monday 8th April 2013 been given to the Cranes Head Coach Mr. Roberts ‘Bobby’ Williamson.
The Emergency Committee of FUFA sitting today took the decision of notice in compliance with the contract of employment and other relevant labour laws of Uganda including the Employment Act 2006.
The technical committee will later next week convene to discuss more details that will be made public at an appropriate time if found necessary.
The FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa (in navy blue suit) at the technical centre in Njeru
Over twenty years ago, the current location of the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru was known to be a great hunting ground for the local residents.
To testify this, Yozefu Muyita,71 one of the residents who turned up to watch the finals of the Presidential U16 Youth Cup said the area herbed many wild animals which included antelopes and bush backs among others.
Muyita said he was amazed to find the area now far developed into a great home of football. “Between 1983 and 1994, this was fertile ground for hunters and we ate a lot of bush meat from here. We once killed a buffalo which we shared among seven families on the eve of a Christmas day…, it could have been 1985” recalled the old man who also claimed to have played football before.
Presidential Cup finals: St. Marys Kitende vs St. Andrews Rubindi SS action at Njeru
Located on a ten acre piece of land, the FUFA technical centre is now ready for use. During the inaugural tournament, St. Marys’ Kitende SS edged St. Andrews Rubindi 1-0 to lift the first Presidential U16 Youth Cup. Eight schools representing different FUFA Regions took part in the five-day event. These included St. Edwards Bukuumi (Kitara), Jinja Progressive and Rock High SS (Eastern), Mvara SS (West Nile), St. Marys Kitende SS (Buganda), St. Andrews Rubindi (Western), Bishop Negri SS (Northern) and Old Kampala SS from Kampala Region.
The cause for excitement:
The Vice President in charge of technical matters, Stone Kyambadde handing over balls to one of the participating teams.
The technical centre is received with a lot of excitement among the residents and the Federation officials. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Presidential U16 Youth Cup, FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa said the centre would be fully utilized by his federation. From April 7-12 the centre will accommodate the FIFA referees course before the Inter regional women competitions later in July.
Mulindwa said the centre would reduce on the costs that have been accumulating as a result of accommodation bills in hotels. “We shall consider having the National teams and the Cranes in particular coming here as well” said the FA president. The centre can house 45 players on top of having a modern conference hall that can accommodate over 200 people, an artificial turf and one natural grass playground.
Winners: St. Marys Kitende SS receive a trophy from FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa on March 29
FUFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Edgar Watson Suubi described the technical centre as a new home for the federation. “We shall be doing all our trainings here and conduct the office businesses in Mengo”, Edgar said. He further referred to the centre as a factory that will manufacture players. This was in comparison with the surrounding factories in the area that produce different goods. It’s now all set for the Technical Director to shift offices from Mengo to Njeru. The only challenge remaining is the construction of his residential house which the CEO said would be put among the next priorities.
Pioneer winners in Njeru:
St. Marys’ Kitende became the first school to win a competition organized in this technical centre. They beat St. Andrews 1-0 to walk away with a cash prize of UGX 3.000.000. The first runners up received UGX 2.000.000, the third team had UGX 1,000,000 while the fourth took home UGX 800,000. All the 8 participating schools walked back with cash prizes and balls. The four semi finalists had a new set of uniform each.
Noordin Bunjo (St. Marys Kitende) and Nesta Ahabwe (St. Andrew Rubindi) were voted the most valuable players while Bunjo also doubled as the tournament’s top scorer with 5 goals. They both received individual cash prizes. Despite emerging the 8th school in performance, Jinja Progressive Academy won the fair play award.
FIFA Development Officer Mr. Ashford Mamelodi inspecting the centre
Thank you FIFA:
It was all praises for the International Football body (FIFA) for funding this beautiful project. The technical centre was constructed with funds from FIFA under the FIFA Goal Project 1 and II. FIFA Development Officer in charge of Africa Ashford Mamelodi in company of his deputy Patrick Onyango inspected the premises on March 25 and commended FUFA for the proper utilization of the funds. Mamelodi said Uganda would be considered for further funding. To the FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa, the word ‘thank you’ was all what he said to express gratitude to the FIFA President Mr. Sepp Blatter for the natural liking towards Uganda.
The FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa decorating Nesta Ahabwe with a medal after the final match.
The climax of the Presidential U16 youth Cup at the Federation Technical Centre in Njeru on Good Friday saw Noordin Bunjo (St. Marys’ Kitende) and Nesta Ahabwe (St. Andrews Rubindi) voted the most valuable players of a five day tournament.
The two equally young but talented players were not a surprise to many spectators given their skillful play.
Bunjo was also the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, a position that earned him an extra UGX 60.000 from the FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa.
The management of the Nile Resort Hotel in Jinja offered a cash contribution of UGX 200.000 which was equally shared between Bunjo and Ahabwe for their exemplary performance.
Noordin Bunjo in action
The chairman of the organizing committee Eddy Butindo said the young boys had had a lot of training in areas of injury prevention/management and the dangers related to homosexuality among others.
The closing ceremony was attended by Ronald Mugula, a prominent kick boxer, among other hundreds of fans.
FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa addressing the players at Njeru
St. Andrews Rubindi Secondary school put up a hard fight for the Presidential U16 Youth Cup title on Good Friday but still succumbed to pressure when they conceded a goal three minutes to the end of the game.
Both teams had played to a goalless first 40 minutes but striker Charles Ssali netted for Kitende in the 77th minute to earn his school the first position. The winners took home UGX 3.000.000 while the first runners up had a UGX 2.000.000 cash prize. St. Edwards Bukuumi (Kitara region) finished third and received UGX 1.000.000 as Old Kampala SS went back with UGX 800,000 for the 4th position.
Others were Bishop Negri SS (UGX 600,000), Mvara SS (UGX 500,000), Rock High SS (UGX 400,000) and Jinja Progressive finished last and earned UGX 300.000 for their efforts. All participating players received a certificate and three balls for each team. The four semi finalists had a new set of jerseys. Despite finishing last, Jinja Progressive were voted winners of the tournament’s Fair play award.
The side view of the FUFA technical centre
The FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa said the technical centre in Njeru would host a series of events with the FIFA referees and assessors’ course going there on April 7 and the women’s tournament in July among others.
The tournament had 42 goals scored, 9 yellow cards and only one red card.
Match No.5: Jinja progressive 1 Vs St. Andrews Rubindi 2
Match No. 6: St Mary’s Kitende 4 VsSt Edwards Bukuumi 0
Match No. 7: Old Kla SS 0 Vs Mvara SS 0
Match No. 8: Rock High SS 0 Vs Bishop Negri 0
Match No. 9: Jinja progressive 0 Vs Mvara SS 2
Match No.10: St Andrews Rubindi 0 Vs Old Kla SS 0
Match No. 11 St Mary’s Kitende 2 Vs Bishop Negri1
Match No. 12: Rock High SS 0 Vs 3 St Edwards Bukuumi 3
The group stage matches of the Presidential U16 Youth Cup going on here at the Federation Technical Centre in Njeru have ended this Wednesday with tournament favourites St. Marys Kitende SS and Old Kampala SS pairing for the second semi finals tomorrow.
Kitende wound up the preliminaries with maximum points from the three games. Old Kampala qualified with one win and two draws. In the first semi final on Thursday, St. Edwards Bukuumi takes on St. Andrews Bukuumi at 9:00am before Kitende and Old Kampala clash at 11:00am.
At 2:00pm, Mvara SS will play Bishop Negri to decide the winner of the 5th position while Jinja Progressive meets Rock High Tororo in a decider for the 7th and the 8th positions.
The finals will be played on Friday with the winner taking home UGX 3m and the UGX 2m for the first runners-up. The FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa also offered UGX 1m for the third team, UGX 0.8m for the fourth, UGX 0.6m for the fifth, UGX 0.5m for the sixth, UGX 0.4m for the seventh and UGX 0.3m for the last team.
The Presidential U16 Youth tournament kicked off this Tuesday at Njeru Technical Centre with a call on school proprietors and head teachers to put in place reasonable budgets for sports and football in particular in their respective institutions.
The FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa shaking hands with the players at the opening ceremony of the Presidential U16 Youth Cup on March 26.
The call was made by the FUFA President and sole proprietor of St. Marys Kitende Secondary School Mr. Lawrence Mulindwa while presiding over the inaugural ceremony of the tournament in Njeru. The FA leader said schools were vital in talent identification and development and therefore needed adequate budgets to register meaningful achievement.
Mulindwa initiated this cup in his individual capacity as a federation President and he is meeting all the expenses of the tournament ranging from the welfare of the participants to the prize money.
The Presidential kick: FUFA boss Lawrence Mulindwa kicks the ball at the official opening of the Presidential U16 youth cup at the technical centre in Njeru.
The President has offered UGX 8.600.000 in cash prizes. The winner will take home UGX 3.000.000 while the second best team takes UGX 2.000.000 and the third ream wins UGX 1.000.000. All the other participating schools will also walk back with some cash. UGX 800.000 for the 4thy team, UGX 700.000 for the 5th, UGX 600,000 for the 6th, UGX 400,000 for the 7th and UGX 300.000 for the 8th positioned school.
The President said the tournament would help the federation identify potential talents for the underage national teams. He also pledged to maintain the tournament on an annual basis.
Results:
Match 1: Jinja Progressive Academy (1) Vs Old Kampala (2)
Match 2: St. Marys Kitende (4) Vs Rock High Rororo (1)
Match 3: St. Andrew Rubindi SS (1) Vs Mvara SS (0)
Match 4: St. Edwards Bukuumi (1) Vs Bishop Negri (8)
Wednesday fixture. (Two play grounds)
Match 5: Jinja Progressive Vs St. Andrews Rubindi (9:00am)
Match 6: St. Marys Kitende Vs St. Edwards Bukuumi (9:00am)
Match 7: Old Kampala SS Vs Mvara SS (11:00am)
Match 8: Rock High School Vs Bishop Negri (11:00am)
Match 9: Jinja Progressive Vs Mvara SS (2:30pm)
Match 10: St. Andrews Rubindi Vs Old Kampala (2:30pm)
Match 11: St. Marys Kitende Vs Bishop Negri (4:00pm)
Njeru Technical centre will be a show of young talents as shown in this picture above.
Five schools arrived this evening at the Technical Centre in Njeru to take part in the Presidential Youth Cup that flags off this Tuesday morning.
Old Kampala SS (Kampala), St. Marys’ Kitende (Buganda), St. Andrews Rubindi (Western), Jinja Progressive Academy (Eastern) and Rock High SS (North East) were already in Njeru by 7pm on Monday. The tournament will attract eight schools in total representing different football regions.
The organizing committee chairperson Eddy Butindo said later in the evening that the remaining three schools were also already on the way to Jinja. “St. Edwards Bukuumi SS (Kitara), Mvara SS (West Nile) and Bishop Negri SS(Northern) are on their way and we expect them shortly”, said Butindo.
The official opening ceremony starts at 9:00am on Tuesday. Hosts Jinja Progressive takes on Old Kampala in the opening match at 10:00am. St. Marys Kitende plays Rock High at 11:00am, St. Andrews Rubindi faces Mvara SS at 2:30pm and St. Edwards Bukuumi SS winds up the day’s program against Bishop Negri at 5:00pm.
FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa will preside over the opening ceremony.
The above activity will be conducted on Wednesday March 27th 2013 during the FUFA Weekly Press Conference at the Federation headquarters in Mengo.
Qualifying teams:
1. Kira Young FC 2. Kamwokya United FC 3. Vipers FC 4. KCC FC 5. Ngora Freda Carr FC 6. Simba FC 7. URA FC 8. Bright Stars FC 9. SC Victoria University 10. Entebbe FC 11. Police FC 12. Soana FC 13. Winner Lira United FC V Proline FC 14. Winner KJT FC V Luweero United FC 15. Winner Mutundwe Lions FC V Wandegeya FC 16. Winner Kyambogo FC V Bugembe United FC.
Despite conceding a goal in either half of the game, Cranes Goalkeeper Denis Onyango exhibited a good show in Monrovia to save Uganda from a humiliating defeat.
Onyango made several savings that would have been obvious goals for ‘the Lone stars’. Uganda lost 2-0 in a game officiated by the Egyptian referees. This was the same margin Uganda lost to Liberia in the last engagement away in Monrovia before today’s fixture.
The game started with a moment of silence in memory of the former Cranes star Ali Kitonsa who died on Saturday. Liberia took the lead in the 36th minute through Patrick Wleh.
Uganda created several scoring chances that did not yield any results.
Line up: Denis Onyango, Denis Guma, Geoffrey Walusimbi, Andy Mwesigwa, Henry Kalungi, Hassan Wasswa, Geoffrey Kizito, Moses Oloya (Said Kyeyune),Geoffrey Massa, Emmanuel Okwi (Robert ssentongo), Mutyaba Mike (Boban Zirintuusa).
‘Jjajja’ Walu in action against Senegal. Walusimbi is a starter in today’s game.
TP Mazembe player Mike Mutyaba could start in today’s 2014 World Cup Qualifiers match against hosts Liberia. Mutyaba last featured for the Cranes in 2010.
The probable line up, still subject to possible changes is as follows
Denis Onyango, Denis Guma, Geoffrey Walusimbi, Andy Mwesigwa, Henry Kalungi, Hassan Wasswa, Geoffrey Kizito, Moses Oloya, Geoffrey Massa, Emmanuel Okwi and Mike Mutyaba.
Former International and Cranes Coordinator Crispus Muyinda says the playing surface of the Samuel Kanyan Doe Sports Complex, the venue for today’s match in Monrovia does not match the required standards.
“The playing surface is bumpy with bare spots and it doesn’t look well levelled”, said Muyinda. The Cranes had a light training on the same venue yesterday.
FUFA senior Vice President Eng. Moses Magogo has commended the good reception the East African community in Monrovia has accorded the Uganda Cranes team since its arrival in the City on Friday evening.
Captain Andy Mwesigwa in action against Senegal.
“We have been overwhelmingly welcomed by the Ugandans but more generally the East African Community working for the United Nations since we arrived here”, said the Vice President adding, “They have made the environment more friendly and conducive for us and our players”.
Magogo who travelled with the team said the federation was able to secure a hotel near the stadium. “We are residing at Golden Gate Hotel. It is a stone throw away from the stadium” he explained.
When asked to comment on the current status of the team the Vice President described the situation as being ‘normal with no alarming challenges’. “Massa and Ochaya joined us on time in Accra. The team is in good spirit”, Magogo further explained on phone from Monrovia.
About the weather, the Vice President said the temperatures are higher compared to Kampala. Meanwhile the technical meeting was held yesterday at 7pm at the FA headquarters.
