African champions Zambia suffered a third consecutive friendly defeat when they lost 2-0 to fellow qualifiers Angola last Saturday in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations warm-up. Striker Geraldo, who plays for Brazilian second-tier club Parana, opened the scoring after eight minutes at Dobsonville Stadium and defender Amaro from Primeiro Agosto added a second five minutes from time.
Zambian FA leader, Kalushya Bwalya
Zambia, who begun the defence of the title on January 21 against Ethiopia in north-eastern South African city Nelspruit, lost away to Saudi Arabia and Tanzania last month. But the losses will not unduly concern 44-year-old French coach Herve Renard as Zambia also posted poor warm-up results before winning the Cup of Nations for the first time with a penalty shootout victory over favourites Ivory Coast. Chipolopolo have three more friendlies lined up against Morocco, Norway and Namibia before facing Group C rivals Ethiopia, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.
Angola, whose Group A opponents will be South Africa, Morocco and the Cape Verde Islands, are on a roll under Uruguayan coach Gustavo Ferrin as this was a third win in a row after home successes against Rwanda and Cameroon.
I welcome you all to this End of the Year Press Conference and I hope we all had a wonderful Christmas. I thank God for helping us all complete 2012 peacefully and hope the New Year 2013 will be much better.
FUFA has registered achievements and challenges in 2012 which will guide our assignment in 2013. Below are some of the achievements:
1.Statutes amendment:
Ugandan FA President: Lawrence Mulindwa
With consultation and guidance from FIFA, CAF and CECAFA, we have been able to put in place a new FUFA amended constitution which was officially endorsed by the General Assembly on August 25th, 2012 at Pope Paul Memorial Hotel. The new statutes will help address any football related challenges that affected football in the past.
2.FUFA-Govt. relationship:
We have maintained a cordial working relationship with the central government throughout the year. We are grateful to the Minister of Education and sports Hon. Jessica Alupo, the State Minister for Sports Hon. Charles Bakabulindi and the National Council of Sports (NCS) among others, who have stood by our side
(2b) Uganda Olympic Committee
Despite the challenges within the Uganda Olympic Committee, FUFA has had a good working relationship in which a course for elite coaches that was held in Makerere University was secured under the Olympic solidarity arrangement.
3.CAF President’s visit:
We invited and hosted the CAF President, Dr. Issa Hayatou from November 23 to 25. We are optimistic that his three day visit to Uganda will bear fruits starting this coming New Year. During his visit, Hayatou was able to hold talks with the FUFA Executive Committee and met H.E the Vice President of Uganda, Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi among other activities.
4.FUFA Super League:
The amendment of the statutes of the top tier league created the ‘FUFA Super League’ which is on running with 16 clubs. The participating clubs instituted an independent board to manage it and it’s already operational. Their offices are located at Green Land Towers in Kampala City Centre. The 16 FUFA Super League clubs are now individually direct FUFA members.
5.CECAFA-Tusker Cup:
We successfully hosted the 36th edition of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup (CECAFA Tusker Cup 2012) and emerged champions after edging archrivals Kenya 2-1 in the finals. This was Uganda’s 13th CECAFA title since 1973 and the 4th win in the same competition since we assumed offices on 17th December 2005. Uganda produced the tournament’s top scorer (Robert Sentongo), best player (Brian Omony) and the best Goal Keeper (Hamza Muwonge).
6.Stand-by Generator
We conclude this year with a modern standby generator, fully installed at our headquarters in Mengo. The 70KV generator was a donation from our partners-National Insurance Corporation (NIC). We are grateful to them for this kind donation.
7.License Plus FIFA donation
FUFA has installed a fully connected automated player registration and licensing soft ware (‘License +) which will be fully operational starting the 2013/2014 season. This soft ware is the first of its kind in Africa and will simplify our operations in the players’ registration exercise. We are grateful to FIFA for facilitating this process
8.Cranes show against Zambia
Although Uganda failed to qualify for the AFCON 2013 finals due in South Africa early next year, the Cranes had a good performance against continental champions Zambia. The Cranes’ 1-0 victory in the normal time is partly the reason for our most recent 86th position in the FIFA Coca Cola rankings. Cranes is now a big brand which should be generously protected by all of us.
9.World Cup 2014 campaign
We wind up the year with 2 points from two matches so far played after forcing a crucial draw against Angola in Luanda and resisting a defeat against Senegal in Kampala. We are left with 4 matches, two of which are home engagements against Angola and Liberia. Cranes will play Liberia and Senegal away. The current table standing gives us equal opportunities to advance to the next stage.
10. CAF License ‘C’ Course:
We conducted a CAF License ‘C’ course for Super Division and a few FUFA Big League club coaches. This was a CAF requirement and out of the 39 participants, 28 obtained the required pass mark for the award of the CAF License C.
11.Youth Football:
The Hippos (U20) competitively participated in the CAF Africa U20 Championship ejecting Mozambique and losing narrowly to African Youth champions Ghana.
12.Competitions Committee
All Leagues in the country were successfully concluded within the stipulated time of 30th June. We successfully organized the Bell Uganda Cup and for the first time, we had the finals held out of Kampala in Pece Stadium, Gulu district.
The Club Licensing process was successfully undertaken and concluded putting Uganda among the few compliant member associations as per CAF requirement.
All the basic sets of rules have been formulated and approved ; namely: The Club Licensing Regulations; Rules on the Status and Transfer of Players; The FUFA Super League Rules and The FUFA Big League Rules.
13.Women football.
FUFA organized several women football activities across the country geared towards developing women football further. Liser Berg, a woman Technical Consultant from USA continues to help the federation promote football development. A course for female coaches was conducted in January with 38 participants.
Kawempe Muslim School won the girls overall football trophy at the East and Central Africa Secondary Schools Championships held in Burundi in August 2012.
14.Media Relations:
We have been able to hold our weekly press conferences throughout the year. We commend the members of the press for positive and timely reporting of FUFA/Football activities.
15.FUFA-Airtel Rising Stars
FUFA partnered with Airtel to hold the U-16 Airtel Rising stars tournament for boys and girls in all regions, with the finals taking place in Jinja.
16.Discovered new talent for national team
Several players featured for the Cranes in the WC/AFCON qualifiers, international friendlies and CECAFA and impressed our technical team. Some of the exceptional talent we discovered includes Godfrey Baba Kizito, Joseph Ochaya, Robert Sentongo, Saidi Kyeyune, Nicholas Wadada and Moses Oloya.
17. Beach Soccer:
FUFA in partnership with Uganda Beach Soccer Clubs Association successfully organized the first fully fledged beach soccer clubs League, corporate league, women tournament and the inter University competition.
18. MTN-FUFA inter region competition
With sponsorship from MTN, FUFA held a successful inter regional competition in Arua where Eastern emerged champions. FUFA appreciates the continued support from MTN and we are optimistic that this partnership will continue to tap new talents from the grassroot.
Key Challenges encountered:
Despite the enormous efforts put in to ensure qualification to Afcon 2013 finals, we narrowly failed to qualify. The limited funding of football activities was yet another leading challenge.
We commend the founders of Uganda Cranes Initiative for appreciating the challenges FUFA has been facing especially in regard to funding our national team by subsequently launching a cash drive through the UCI.
We thank UCI for all the support they extended to our victorious CECAFA team and we will continue to work hand in hand.
To all our sponsors, we are grateful for the support extended towards football activities in the country. MTN
I also wish to thank in a very special way the football fans in this country for the support showed throughout the year.
Our focus in 2013:
FUFA will be looking to consolidating our registered achievements in 2012 as we scale up new heights. The immediate targets include:
Ensuring successful 2014 World Cup qualifiers by preparing Cranes well.
Maintaining a good working relationship with FIFA, CAF, CECAFA, government and our sponsors.
Organizing international friendly matches for our national team.
Solicit sponsorship for the FUFA Super League, Big League, FUFA Regional leagues, beach soccer league, women league and other football activities.
Implement the new constitution and finalize the process of creating new statutes for regional and lower levels.
Assemble a competitive team of locally based players to participate in the CAF organized CHAN competition.
Continue working towards unity among all stake holders for purposeful intentions related to football development.
Conduct free and fair elections at all levels later in the New Year.
Organize more courses in areas of refereeing, coaching youth coaching and administration among others.
Promote and develop further women football.
Engage the underage teams into preparatory matches.
Keep up our supervisory role in all association football related matters.
Maintain the culture of holding FUFA weekly press conferences for purposes of information dissemination and accountability.
Strengthening the FUFA Secretariat by appointing Competitions Director, Commercial Director and Director Finance, among others.
Further promote beach soccer.
Conclusion:
The Year 2013 will require a continued collective effort from all stakeholders. Football must be put at the helm and we work towards its consolidation and development.
Those opposed to our leadership must start preparing for the elections due in 2013 other than wasting resources in useless court battles.
FUFA will continue to resist any selfish acts that contradict association football rules in this New Year. We will enforce the FUFA Constitution to the latter.
Uganda Cranes takes on their arch-rivals Harambee Stars of Kenya in the anticipated thrilling finals of this year’s Cecafa-Tusker Cup this evening at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
The two sides played the official opening match of the tournament on Nov ember 24 with Uganda Cranes edging the visitors 1-0. Kenya struggled into the finals after dumping Zanzibar 4-2 on spot kicks. Their normal time had ended 2-2.
Uganda Cranes goes into today’s finals with an advantage record of having conceded no goal against the eleven the team has scored in five games they have so far played.
Uganda opened up their title campaign with a 1-0 victory over Kenya, edged Ethiopia on the same margin before walloping South Sudan 4-0 in their last group stage match. In the Quarter finals, the hosts still played Ethiopia as second best losers who conceded 2 unanswered goals.
Next in their way was Tanzania who also failed to match the Cranes performance when they lost 3-0 in the semi finals. Tanzania now plays Zanzibar in their third place match to decide the winner of the USD 10.000 prize.
The Uganda-Kenya game will be played at 6:00pm. Thiery Nkurunziza (Burundi) will be the centre referee assisted by Mussie Kinde (Ethiopia) and Mohamad Idam (Sudan). The standby referee is Mohamed El Fadil from Sudan and Tariq Atta (Sudan) is the match commissioner.
The winner walks away with a cash prize of USD 30.000 with another USD 20.000 going to the losing team. The tournament is sponsored by East African Breweries limited (EABL) through Tusker, one of their favourite brands.
In 2009, Kenya lost to Uganda 1-0 in the finals of the same tournament.
Team Captain Hassan Wasswa celebrates one of the Cranes’ goals in the tournament with teammate Brian Umony. Uganda beat Ethipia 2-0 to storm the semi finals of this year’s Cecafa-Tusker Cup.
UGANDA and Kenya stormed into the semi-finals of the 2012 Cecafa Tusker Challenge Cup with entertaining football under fine conditions at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium, Namboole on Tuesday.
They now join Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland — qualifiers from Monday’s quarter-finals at Lugogo Ground — for the semi-finals at Namboole on Thursday.
Kenya edged Malawi 1-0 via a brilliantly headed goal by veteran striker Mike Baraza from a sublime long pass on the left flank by Harambee Stars full-back Abdallah Juma.
Geoffrey Kizito and Robert Ssentongo smacked the ball into the Ethiopian goal on either side of half time to give the defending champion Cranes an emphatic 2-0 over Ethiopia, the only nation in the Cecafa region who will be attending the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa next January.
The Challenge Cup semis will, therefore, be a rare all-East African affair, the original members of the competition — Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zanzibar — having a contest reminiscent of the days they battled for the then Gossage Cup.FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa watched both semi finals.
Started in 1926 as an annual battle between Kenyan and Uganda, the Gossage Cup was forerunner to the Challenge Cup, the longest running competition in Africa.
Currently, 12 nations are members of Cecafa, an acronym for Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations.
This year’s competition was launched by Dr Issa Hayatou, the Cameroonian Africa football boss and CAF President.
Moses Oloya in action against Ethiopia. Cranes won 1-0 to book a slot into the quarter finals
Nov. 28: Somalia Vs Sudan (Free to all)
Nov. 28: Tanzania Vs Burundi (Free to all)
Nov. 29: Malawi Vs Eritrea (Free to all)
Nov. 29: Rwanda Vs Zanzibar (Free to all)
Nov. 30: Kenya Vs Ethiopia (Only free to women)
Nov. 30: South Sudan Vs Uganda (Only free to women)
Dec. 01: Sudan Vs Burundi (Free)
Dec. 01: Somalia Vs Tanzania (Free)
Dec. 01: Malawi Vs Zanzibar (Free to all)
Dec. 01: Eritrea Vs Rwanda (Free to all)
A joint announcement from FUFA, Cecafa and EABL has confirmed this Wednesday morning that fans will have a free entrance into Mandela National Stadium to watch eight of the ongoing Cecafa-Tusker Cup matches.
The resolution followed an administrative meeting attended by the FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa, EABL Managing Director Alasdair Musselwhite and Cecafa General Secretary Nicholas Musonye on Tuesday. Eng. Moses Magogo the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee and CEO Edgar Watson were among other participants.
The decision was intended to give the fans a bonus in recognition of their continued support of football in the region. It was further resolved that for the Cranes match day on Friday (Kenya Vs Ethiopia and South Sudan Vs Uganda), women will still have watch the two games free as men part with only UGX 5000 and UGX 20.000 for the open stands and the pavilion respectively.
With 18 matches remaining Uganda soccer fans have much more to look forward to hosting East Africa’s most prestigious soccer tournament-CECAFA TUSKER CUP.
Brian Umony scored the cranes’ sole goal against Ethiopia to push Uganda into the quarter finals of this year’s Cecafa-Tusker Cup.
The Uganda Cranes on Tuesday afternoon became the first team ‘A’ in the region to qualify for this year’s Cecafa-Tusker Cup quarter finals after registering a second consecutive win.
The Cranes edged Ethiopia 1-0 in their second group stage fixture to go top of the table. KCCA FC player Brian Umony netted the Cranes’ sole goal in the first half of the game. Earlier in the day, Kenya had beaten South Sudan 2-0 to create themselves chances of qualifying into the knock-out stages.
Coach Bobby Williamson hailed his boys describing their performance as having been very good despite the slim win. His counterpart confessed, he had played a brilliant side. Ethiopia is the only country in the Cecafa region that qualified to play in the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Uganda now has six points with one game at hand against South Sudan. Kenya is placed in the second position with 3 points and 2 goals ahead of Ethiopia with 3pts and one goal. South Sudan has so far lost all its first two games.
The Uganda Cranes beat bitter rivals Kenya 1-0 on Saturday in their opening game of the 2012 Cecafa-Tusker Cup going on here in Kampala.
In the earlier played game, Ethiopia edged South Sudan by the same margin at Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Namboole, Kampala.African Football Confederation [CAF] President Dr Issa Hayatou was chief guest during the Group ‘A’ encounters in which Kenya suffered a dent to their hopes of coming out of the pool as quarter finalists.
Uganda and Ethiopia, straight away became hot favourites to proceed while Kenya and debutants South Sudan threatened with early elimination.Geoffrey Kizito scored for Uganda in the 73rd minute to crown the Cranes’ clear dominance during the entire match.
Harambee Stars poorly defended a free kick taken by Dennis Iguma from outside the box on the right flank. Kizito struck from close range past a helpless Duncan Ochieng’.While Kenya ought to have equalised at the death when a long throw-in by Enoch Agwanda dropped on the goal line and was twice knocked by Kenyan legs but mysteriously did not cross, they were largely outplayed by the Cranes who were superior in ball control and movement.
Kenya had to make one forced change to the line-up announced hours to the match as striker Mike Baraza exited with sickness to be replaced by Ramadhan Salim. After a quarter of an hour, all the running was being done by the Cranes and Brian Umony, Kizito, Moses Oloya and striker Emmanuel Okwi had the Harambee Stars furiously defending.
The Kenyan attack had no natural striker deployed and the diminutive Salim was at the front of converted midfielders picked to play the role. The support of Humphrey Mieno, Clifton Miheso and Anthony “Muki” Kimani completely lacked bite.
It had been a 6pm kick-off and when teams returned to the pitch after the first half, a power black-out hit a section of the stadium and it was 10 minutes before the lights went on again.
Uganda showed no slow-down effect after the interruption but Harambee Stars almost hit them with a good counter-attack move initiated by substitute Paul Were which almost resulted into a Kenyan lead.
But in diving at the feet to cut off the final ball, Cranes ‘keeper Abbey Dhaira was badly injured. After writhing with pain on the pitch, he was replaced by Hamza Muwonge but still looked in deep distress during a doctor’s attention on the touchline and was then rushed to hospital in an ambulance.
After Uganda’s goal, Kevin Omondi split the Cranes’ defence for a ball into the box for Mieno who should have had a better effort in connecting for a decent shot at goal.
Kenyans showed some cutting edge in the final 10 minutes but a relaxed Uganda defence effectively saw off the period.TEAMS:
UGANDA – 1. Abbey Dhaira (18. Hamza Muwonge, 60’): 16. Hassan Waswa (captain), 6. Dennis Iguma, 15. Geoffrey Walusimbi, 4. Henry Kalungi, 5. Isaac Isinde, 13. Moses Oloya, 3. Geoffrey Kizito, 7. Emmanuel Okwi, 10. Brian Umony (9. Robert Sentongo, 90’), 11. Hamisi Kiiza
CAF boss Issa Hayatou arrived in Kampala Thursday evening
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Mr. Issa Hayatou arrived in Kampala Thursday night.
Hayatou was received at Entebbe International Airport by the FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa and the Cecafa leader Eng. Leodgar Tenga among other dignitaries.
The continental football leader will this Friday morning attend the Cecafa congress at Imperial Royale Hotel starting 10am. Together with Mulindwa and Tenga the trio will address the press conference at the same venue at 2pm.
A special dinner organized in recognition of his visit to Uganda has also been organized at Serena Hotel today evening.
Hayatou is in Uganda on a special joint invitation by the FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa and Cecafa leader, Engg. TengaHe will meet the FUFA executive on Saturday morning before he proceeds to Mandela National stadium to preside over the official opening ceremony of this year’s Cecafa-Tusker Cup later in the evening.
FUFA wishes to inform the press and the entire public that the CAF President Mr. Issa Hayatou has accepted to visit Uganda on a special invitation extended to him by the FA President Mr. Lawrence Mulindwa and CECAFA President Eng. Leodgar Tenga.
The Continental football leader is expected in the country in the evening hours of Thursday, November 22. His visit is partly in recognition of FUFA’s continued efforts that have seen Uganda’s football steadily developing to better levels. Uganda is currently ranked 86th in the World’s FIFA rankings away from the 117th position in 2005. We are 20th in the whole Africa.
Host: FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa
Hayatou will be in company of several CAF officials who will include the General Secretary Mr. Hicham El Amrani. Other confirmed members of the delegation include Mohamed Raouraoua, Constant Omari and Ngangue Appolinaire. He will meet the FUFA Executive shortly after his arrival in Kampala.
During his stay in Uganda, the CAF President will also attend the CECAFA Congress at Serena Hotel on Friday, November 23 before presiding over the official opening of the Cecafa-Tusker Cup at Namboole stadium the following evening. He is also scheduled to hold talks with the Sports Minister Hon. Charles Bakabulindi before he travels back.
Uganda hosts neighbors Kenya in the opening match of the Cecafa-Tusker Cup at 6pm, November 24. FUFA is privileged to host such dignitaries and we are grateful to His Excellency the CAF President for accepting to visit Uganda.
The Uganda Cranes will have to shift to a new home at Rivonia suites in Mbuya during their campaign to defend this year’s Cecafa-Tusker Cup that flags off on November 24 here in Kampala.
The Cranes fans organized under the Uganda Cranes Initiatives (UCI) are the ones behind the new development. Robert Kabushenga the Chief Executive Officer of the Vision Group that publishes both the New Vision and Bukedde news papers is the acting UCI chairperson.
Addressing the press from the new premises on Wednesday morning, Kabushenga said they were looking for a total of UGX 200m to fund the team’s Cecafa budget. Rwenzori mineral water offered 250 cartons of water while Sheraton Hotel will cater for the laundry services. Life Link Medical centre pledged to meet the team’s medical costs on and off the pitch.
Bobby in the gym wing of Rivonia Hotel
The Cranes will this Saturday shift to Rivonia suites from Sky Hotel. FUFA Vice President in charge of technical matters Livingstone Kyambadde said the federation had not however completely moved away from Sky Hotel. “Rivonia has been identified by the lead fans for Cecafa but we shall still have Sky Hotel for other activities if need arises” Kyambadde remarked.
Rivonia suites has most of the facilities the players need and the head coach Bobby Williamson was impressed with the new place.
Cecafa General Secretary Nicholas Musonye released the list.
Cecafa General Secretary Nicholas Musonye has released the official list of 16 referees for this year’s Tusker Senior Challenge Cup due to kick off in Kampala on November 24.
The officials, eight of whom are assistant referees will undergo both medical and fitness tests on November 23 just a day after their arrival in Kampala. Musonye has urged the referees to prepare effectively in order to avoid embarrassments when they fail to impress before their instructors.
The fitness tests will be conducted by retired FIFA referee Charles Masembe who is also a member of the CAF Referees committee among other officials. The full list is as below:
Refs:
Thierry Nkurunzinza (Burundi), Maeruf Mensur (Eritrea), Antony Ogwayo (Kenya),Hakizimana Louis (Rwanda), Ali Kalyango (Uganda), Mohamed Hussein El Fadhil (Sudan), Denis Batte (Uganda) and Israel Mujuni (Tanzania). Assistants: Mark Ssonko (Uganda), Mussie Kinde (Ethiopia), Peter Sabatia (Kenya), Idam Mohammed (Sudan), Hakizimana Ambroise (Rwanda), Kinduli Ali (Zanzibar), Clemence Erasmo (Tanzania) and Omar Abukar (Somalia).
Cecafa General Secretary Nicholas Musonye addressing journalists during the release of the official fixtures in Kampala on Monday
The Uganda Cranes will play rivals Kenya in the official opening match of this year’s CECAFA-Tusker Cup to be held here in Kampala starting November 24.
Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan constitute Group ‘A’ that plays the first two opening matches. Cecafa General Secretary Nicholas Musonye released the official fixtures during a colourful function held at Serena Hotel in Kampala on Monday.
“We expect high profile guests at this year’s event and I am grateful to our sponsors (EABL) for the continued support” Musonye remarked.
Sudan, Tanzania, Burundi and Somalia will battle it out in Group ‘B’ while Rwanda, Malawi, Zanzibar and Eritrea are in Group ‘C’. Uganda will be looking to winning her 13th Cecafa challenge Cup title since 1973.
Uganda and Kenya last met on October 8, 2011in Namboole when they registered a goalless draw to deny Uganda a slot into the Africa Cup of Nations Finals.
Ethiopia and South Sudan will play the first game at 3pm before the Cranes take on Harambee Stars.
The Cranes lost their most recent game at Namboole on a 8-9 heart breaking penalty shoot-out to African champions Zambia who are headed for the AFCON finals in South Africa in January.
Uganda’s 1-0 win however helped move them from the 91st position to 86 in the FIFA rankings released this month.
Somali National team that participated in the same tournament in Dar es Salaam in 2011
Somali National football ‘A’ team, ‘The Ocean stars’ touched Entebbe International Airport Friday night to start preparations ahead of this year’s Cecafa-Tusker Cup that kicks off on November 24 here in Kampala City.
FUFA Protocol officer WOI Boniface Oryem was at the Airport to receive the 13-man Somali delegation currently camped at Mandela Hotel adjacent Mandela National stadium. According to Amir Hassan, an advance party officer who arrived in Kampala four days earlier, the first group comprised only players.
Amir said 11 others were due to arrive in Kampala this Saturday evening while a few other professional players from UK, USA, Holland and Kuwait would join the team later. The Ocean Stars will have a two-week training here before the official kick off of the tournament. Somali Federation is meeting their costs until November 21 when Cecafa will take them over.
“Somali Football Federation [SFF] has done all efforts it could and we are hopeful of good outcome this year” Said the Federation Secretary General Abdi Qabi Said Arab in Mogadishu before the team’s departure on Friday.
He praised the efforts by the Somali football coaches outside the country whom he said had prepared talented players for their National side. Those coaches include SFF administrative representative in UK Abdi Olad Rage and Abdirashid Islow.
Somalia has experiencing one of the world’s most notorious civil wars for the past two decades, but becomes the sole country that had never missed a single international, continental or regional competition. Cecafa General Secretary Nicholas Musonye describes Somalia as ‘a football loving nation’.
Malawi will be the only guest team in this year’s CECAFA-Tusker Cup to be played in Kampala starting November 24.
Three countries including Cameroon and Zimbabwe had earlier showed interest in participating in the same tournament but the regional organising committee has preferred Malawi. CECAFA General Secretary Nicholas Musonye confirmed the development saying that Malawi has always proved a well coordinated, disciplined and competitive side in these tournaments. This will be the third consecutive time Malawi is participating as a guest team since 2010.
Malawi replaces Djibouti, a member country that pulled out of the tournament due to administrative challenges at home. Djibouti goes to polls to elect a new FA President this Saturday under the supervision of the FIFA officials. Cecafa referees committee member Houssein Waberi had by the beginning of the week remained to sole candidate for the seat.
The Cecafa-Tusker Cup draws will be conducted in Kampala on Monday. The other participating countries are Tanzania, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Sudan, Burundi, Eritrea, Somalia, Zanzibar, Kenyai and hosts Uganda.
The Somali National team arrives in Kampala this Friday to camp here a head of the tournament kick off. An advance party from Mogadishu is already in Kampala to make the necessary ground preparations.
Cecafa General Secretary Nicholas Musonye will be in Kampala this weekend to monitor the progress on the Tusker Cup.
The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) General Secretary Nicholas Musonye has confirmed Monday November 12 as the date for the release of this year’s Cecafa-Tusker Cup fixtures. The tournament kicks off on November 24.
Speaking to www.fufa.co.ug from his offices in Nyayo stadium, Nairobi City Thursday evening, Musonye said he would be travelling to Kampala on Sunday to embark on the pre-event preparations.
East African Breweries Ltd (EABL) the tournament sponsors are yet to name the function venue. On arrival in Kampala, Musonye will hold a meeting with the Local organizing committee Sunday evening. He will also hold a meeting with EABL officials on Monday morning before addressing the press conference at 1:00pm.
After the release of the fixtures, the cecafa boss will visit all the hotel facilities booked for teams/officials and pay a courtesy call to Namboole stadium management. His day ends with another meeting to be attended by the members of the marketing committee later in the evening.
On Tuesday, Musonye will hold a joint meeting that will be attended by Cecafa officials, FUFA and the sponsors (EABL) before he flies back to Nairobi in the evening.
FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa mourned Kalanzi’s death
The body of the Cranes bus driver Amir Kalanzi was on Thursday afternoon laid to rest at his ancestral cemetery at Kitagobwa village in Butambala district amidst positive comments from thousands of mourners who attended the burial.
FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa said in a message read out for him by his vice president in charge of technical matters, Livingstone Kyambadde that the federation had lost a committed worker. “Kalanzi has served the federation to our satisfaction and we shall miss his services especially at this time when we are nearing the Cecafa-Tusker Cup” read part of Mulindwa’s written message to the bereaved family.
“We thank God for the time he has been with us and his contributions towards football in this country leaves a positive mark behind as a committed driver. May his soul rest in eternal peace” Mulindwa added. The Federation President raised a cash contribution of UGX.500.000 on top of meeting all the hospital bills and other burial costs.
Cranes team Manager Bobby Williamson, FUFA Vice President Eng. Moses Magogo (Administration), Federation CEO Edgar Watson, counsel Alex Luganda, Cranes coordinator Crispus Muyinda and Cranes Doctor Ronald Kisolo were among the thousands of mourners present.Bobby was the last guest in Mulago hospital before Kalanzi took his last breath, Wednesday afternoon. “It was such a trying moment as he fought to save his life from a hospital bed but he shortly succumbed to death” said Bobby who watched Kalanzi’s lat minutes on earth.
Godfrey Walusimbi ‘Jajja Walu’ in action against Senegal early this year. The left defender has been selected to captain the Cecafa Cranes side. The team starts training this Saturday.
Cranes Manager Bobby Williamson has released his team that will contest with eleven other National ‘A’ teams in the forthcoming CECAFA-Tusker Cup due in Kampala later this November.
Cranes left defender Godfrey Walusimbi will captain the team that looks forward to defending the regional title they lifted last year in Dar es Salaam. First choice goal keeper Abby Dhaira deputizes him. Bobby announced his squad during the Federation weekly press conference at Mengo today morning.
The 30-man squad has Abby Dhaira, Hamza Muwonge, Ali Kimera and Yasin Mugabi as goal keepers. Sweden based AIK FC player Martin Mutumba, Kenya’s Dan Sserunkuuma (Gor Mahia FC) and Tanzania’s Joseph Owino from Azam FC are also on the list.
The team will start a non residential training next Saturday at Namboole stadium. The full squad:-
Goal keeper: Abby Dhaira, Yasin Mugabi, Ali Kimera and Hamza Muwonge.
Defenders: Godfrey Walusimbi (Captain), Ivan Bukenya, Denis Iguma, Isaac Isinde, Joseph Owino, Nicholas Wadada, Joseph Ochaya and Edward Ssali. Midfielders: Chrisestom Ntambi, Manco Kawesa, Moses Oloya, Martin Mutumba, Gift Ali, Matovu Sula, Juma Sadam, Brian Majwega, Joseph Mpande Mbolingo, Robert Omunuk and Geoffrey Kizito. Strikers: Emmanuel Okwi, Hamis Kiiza, Steven Bengo, Umony Brian, Robert Ssentongo, Moses Oloya and Dan Sserunkuuma
FUFA CEO Edgar Watson Suubi confirmed the death of his staff
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) regrets to announce the death of Mr. Amir Kalanzi who has been the Cranes Bus driver.
Kalanzi passed on from Mulago Referral Hospital where he had been admitted since Monday. He had earlier been admitted at Malcom International Hospital from where he was referred to Mulago on Monday morning. Before meeting his death, Kalanzi complained of severe abdominal paid.
Kalanzi has been a committed driver and for the entire period he has served FUFA, he never at anytime got close to committing an accident on the road. Our National team players usually enjoyed his comfortable drive on top of the jokes he always shared with them.
We shall all miss his services especially at this time when Cecafa-Tusker Cup is at the door way here in Kampala.
The deceased’s body has already been taken to his parents’ home in Nsangi, Wakiso district. Burial is scheduled for Thursday at Kitagobwa Village in Butambala district at 2pm.
