Author: Ahmed Marsha

Uganda U17 Women’s National Team journey in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers came to an agonizing end on Friday at St. Mary’s Stadium Kitende.

Teen Cranes won the return leg 1-0 today but a 2-0 defeat in the first leg meant, Zambia progressed to the final qualification phase.

Sylvia Kabene scored the lone goal of the game with her strike coming in the 73rd minute.

Before the start of the game, a momentum of silence was observed in honor of the Late Coach Fred Kajoba who passed on early this week.

Right from kickoff, Uganda proved the better side and made several inroads in order to score an early goal.

Agnes Nabukenya set up Kabene in the 20th minute but the latter failed to shot on target.

Moments later, she had a one on one opportunity at goal but she shot direct at Zambian goalkeeper Mwila Chisala Mufunte.

The first half ended goalless but Uganda kept surging forward and eventually got the breakthrough 17 minutes from time.

Kabene fought through three defenders before scoring from a rebound to give Ugandan fans hope.

There were further chances for Uganda inside the closing stages but the much needed composure in front of goal was lacking.

Uganda U17 Starting XI
Lillian Nakiirya (GK), Charity Katusiime, Agnes Nabukenya, Shadia Nabirye, Desire Katisi Natooro (C), Esther Nangendo, Sylvia Kabene, Dorine Aujat, Faridah Namirimu, Ritah Anitah Nambuusi, Joyce Kainza

Substitutes
Angella Adeke (GK), Bethany Kaluya, Mariam Namataka, Bushira Muhammad Nalunkuuma, Tamisi Shafiga, Fahima Babirye, Vanessa Namazzi

Zambia U17 Starting XI
Mwila Chisala Mufunte (GK), Nana Malanda, Blessing Maluba, Bwalya Namute Chileshe, Zangose Blessing Zulu (C), Nkaka Natasha, Margret Gondwe, Ruth Mukoma, Saliya Mwana, Ruth Muwowo, Mary Mukupa

Substitutes
Eunice Mutonyi, Harriet Angela Matipa, Mercy Chipasula, Eunice Doreen Bwalya, Cynthia Mushili, Taonga Mubanga

As the Uganda U17 Women’s National Team (Teen Cranes) brace themselves for a decisive encounter against Zambia in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, all eyes are on their relentless pursuit of progressing to the next stage.

Teen Cranes Head Coach Sheryl Botes, despite the odds stacked against them following a 2-0 loss in the first leg, exudes confidence and determination as she prepares her squad for the crucial second leg slated for Friday at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

During the pre match press conference held on Friday at FUFA Complex, the gaffer left no room for doubt about the team’s objectives. She emphasized the need for an aggressive approach, highlighting the necessity of scoring at least two goals while keeping a clean sheet to overturn the deficit.

The stakes are high, and Botes understands the magnitude of the task ahead.

“As we are going into the second leg, we were well prepared. We have worked on the mistakes that we encountered during the first game and we believe the team can overturn this score,” she stated.

The first-leg defeat in Lusaka’s National Heroes Stadium was undoubtedly a setback, but it has only fueled the Teen Cranes’ resolve to rise above adversity. With meticulous preparation and strategic planning, Coach Botes has instilled a sense of purpose in her players, emphasizing the importance of unity and resilience on the field.

“The girls have been given the confidence
that we can change turn this around. They know that we believe that. And as a technical team, we’ve done everything in our power now to put a good team out there tomorrow so that we can go and be able to score more goals tomorrow.” Botes added.

Key to the team’s aspirations is captain, Desire Katisi Natooro, whose leadership qualities and optimism are pivotal in boosting team morale.

Natooro, echoing her coach’s sentiments, expressed hope for the best possible outcome in the upcoming match. Her unwavering belief in the team’s abilities is emblematic of the spirit that drives the Teen Cranes forward.

“The mood is high, we are ready for tomorrow’s game,” Commented Desire before adding, “With the coaching strategies, we are good to go. The whole team is in good shape and we hope to get better results against Zambia tomorrow.”

The road to World Cup qualification demands not only skill and determination but also a profound sense of national pride. For these young athletes, representing Uganda on the international stage is both an honor and a responsibility. The prospect of earning a spot in the U17 Women’s World Cup is the ultimate goal.

The match will be played on Friday 17th May 2024 at St Mary’s Stadium-Kitende, kickoff at 4pm and free entrance for all fans.

In a prelude to their upcoming FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, the Uganda U17 Women’s National Team, fondly known as Teen Cranes, secured a solid 2-1 victory over Kampala Queens FC in a friendly match held on Monday afternoon at MTN Omondi Stadium Lugogo.

The match saw Kampala Queens taking an early lead as Shamirah Nalugya confidently converted a penalty in the first half, putting the Teen Cranes on the back foot momentarily. However, the youthful resilience of the national team shone through in the later stages of the game.

Gift Nabukenya, displaying a knack for seizing crucial moments, pulled the Teen Cranes level with a well-taken goal. The momentum shifted further in Teen Cranes’ favor when Kampala Queens inadvertently contributed to the scoreline with an own goal from Asia Nakibuuka, ultimately sealing the victory for the national side.

Head coach Sheryl Botes expressed her satisfaction with the performance of her squad, emphasizing the positive strides made by the players as they prepare for the high-stakes qualifiers against Zambia.

“Am very proud of the girls, they’ve done extremely well. Even though we won today, it doesn’t matter. To me it’s only about the performance of the players in relation to the Key components we’ve been working on for the past three days.”

The friendly encounter provided valuable insights and opportunities for the Teen Cranes to fine-tune their strategies and build team cohesion ahead of the first leg of the qualifiers scheduled for May 12th at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka after which the return leg will take place on May 17th 2024, at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

Coach Sheryl Botes has summoned a provisional squad of 33 players to embark on preparations for the forthcoming FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.

The Uganda U17 Women’s National Team (Teen Cranes) will take on Zambia at the third round of the Qualifiers.

The first leg is slated for 12th May at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka while the return leg will be played on 17th May 2024 at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

The squad summoned will enter residential camp on Sunday, 28th April 2024 at Cranes Paradise Hotel, Kisasi.

To reach this stage, Uganda overcame Cameroon while Zambia eliminated Tanzania.

The winner on aggregate between Uganda and Zambia will face either Morocco or Algeria at the final qualification phase.

Full Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers
Lillian Nakilya (St. Noa SS WFC), Angella Adeke (Royal Queens FC), Ashley Nakabugo (Kawempe Muslim SS), Dorcus Namboozo (Byafaayo Queens), Martha Nabirye (Busoga Queens FC)

Defenders
Faridah Namirimu (Wakiso Hill WFC), Charity Katusiime (Tagy High School WFC), Desire Katisi Natooro (Asubo Ladies FC), Bethany Kaluya (Brighton and Hove Albion Ladies FC), Promise Kwagalakwe (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Sharlom Nambuya (Byafaayo Queens FC), Barbara Anena (St. Leo’s Gulu), Ritah Anitah Nambuusi (Divine Soccer Academy), Peninah Clara Wetaase (Excel Soccer Academy)

Midfielders
Esther Nangendo (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Vanessa Namazzi (Kawempe Muslim SS), Tamisi Shafiga(Byafaayo Queens FC), Asia Kakai (Byafaayo Queens FC), Bushirah Nalunkuuma (Rines SS WFC), Babirye Fahima (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Auki Kigongo (Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC), Margret Balimwesa (Busoga Queens FC), Swaibu Lukiya Naigaga (Busoga Queens FC), Esther Lwamwaka (Rev. Jaboloni), Mariam Namataka (Byafaayo Queens FC), Doreen Alijat (Byafaayo Queens FC), Joyce Kaniza (Byafaayo Queens FC), Shadia Nabirye (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Mariam Auma (St. Leo’s Gulu), Monica Nanono (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC)

Forwards
Sylvia Kabene (St. Noa SS WFC), Agnes Nabukenya (Kawempe Muslim SS)

Officials

Sheryl Botes Ulanda – Head Coach

Charles Ayiekoh Lukula – Assistant Coach

Shawn Robert Bishop – Performance Analyst

David Ribeiro – Goalkeeping Coach

Keny Rogers Tezigwa– Goalkeeping Coach

Allan Nsubuga Magunda – Video Analyst

Danny Kirumira – Sports Scientist

Mable Kabatalindwa – Team Doctor

Darlian Kyasiimire – Team Physiotherapist

Cissy Nakiguba Gaudensia – Equipment Manager

Joan Namusisi – Team Coordinator

Joel Kivumbi – Media Officer

The Uganda U16 Women’s team registered its first victory at the UEFA Friendship Tournament held in Istanbul, Turkey, triumphing over Botswana with a 3-2 victory in a classification match played on Thursday.

Isabella Blick, Shadia Nabirye, and substitute Angel Ainembabazi scoree a goal each, propelling Uganda to victory and helping the team to a commendable 7th place finish.

Despite a challenging start in the group stages, where they suffered defeats against formidable opponents, including Paraguay (7-0), China (4-1), and Wales (1-0), the team showcased resilience and determination, culminating in a well-deserved triumph against Botswana.

In recognition of their achievement, both Uganda and Botswana were honored with medals by the tournament organizers, highlighting the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship.

The Ugandan team is scheduled to return home on Saturday morning, carrying with them the pride of their historic victory and the invaluable experience gained on the international stage.

Summary of the Uganda U16 team performance at the UEFA Friendship Tournament.

Group B Matches

Paraguay 7-0 Uganda
Uganda 0-1 Wales
China 4-1 Uganda (Asia Kakayi)

Classification Match

Botswana 2-3 Uganda (Isabella Blick, Shadia Nabirye and Angel Ainembabazi)

FUFA through the Competitions Department has released the road map for the 2024 FUFA Primary Schools Championship (Odilo).

Into its third edition, the annual tournament seeks to offer a competitive platform to Primary School going pupils between the age of 11-13.

The process will begin by schools expressing interest in participating at the district level.

‘Participation is by registration with a commitment fee of UGX 50,000 payable to the district organizing committee under the Chairmanship of the FUFA District Football Association,” noted Aisha Nalule, the FUFA Competitions Director.

Breakdown of the distribution of the registration fee

UGX 35,000 – To the District
UGX 10,000 – To the Region
UGX 5,000 – To FUFA Competitions Directorate

The competition shall be composed of a district organizing committee of 5 members and shall include the 2 members from the District Football Association, DFA Chairperson and the Executive Secretary.

At the Regional Level, the Chairperson, Regional EXCOM Member, Regional Secretary and two members from the regional schools association and at least two members must be female.

The district winners will play at the Regional level to determine the Champions (Male and Female category) who will then represent the region at the National Level.

The National Competition will be played at FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru with all games broadcast on FUFA Tv.

It should be noted that the Champions at national level will represent Uganda in the FEASSA gameswhuch will be hosted in Bukedea, Uganda in August.

Bombo Army Primary School and Kampala Grammar Junior School are the defending Champions in the girls and boys’ category respectively.

Road Map

15th -30th April – Registration of teams at district level

5th -19th May – District Competitions

21st -31st May – Zonal Competitions

8th – 22nd June – Regional Competitions

6th – 20th July – National Finals

Uganda’s U16 women’s national team faced a tough challenge against China in the final group B match of the UEFA Friendship Tournament on Tuesday 16th April 2024.

Despite a 4-1 loss, the team achieved a significant milestone as Asia Kakayi scored the team’s first goal in the tournament in the 74th minute.

Head coach Charles Ayiekoh expressed satisfaction with this achievement, despite finishing bottom of the group with no points.

The team now looks ahead to a classification match against Botswana on Thursday 18th April to determine the 7th and 8th positions in the tournament.

In their second match at the UEFA Friendship Tournament in Istanbul, Turkey, the Uganda U16 Women’s National Team faced Wales on Saturday 13th April in a closely contested battle.

Despite putting up a much-improved performance compared to their previous game, where they suffered a 7-0 defeat to Paraguay, Uganda fell short against Wales, conceding a late strike in the second half.

The goal proved to be the decider, leaving Uganda with no points in Group B after two games and placing them at the bottom of the standings.

However, Head Coach Charles Ayiekoh praised his players for their resilience and fighting spirit against a formidable Welsh side boasting players from established teams like Manchester United, Leicester, Reading, Blackburn, among others.

Despite the setback, Uganda looks ahead to their final group stage match against China on Tuesday, April 16th, 2024, with determination to finish the tournament on a positive note.

In their opening Group B clash at the UEFA Friendship Tournament in Istanbul, Turkey, Uganda’s U16 women’s national team faced a formidable challenge against Paraguay, succumbing to a 7-0 loss.

Despite the significant margin of defeat, head coach Charles Ayiekoh found reasons to be impressed by his team’s performance, citing their resilience and determination throughout the match.

Ayiekoh acknowledged the missed opportunities that could have altered the outcome, expressing disappointment over wasted chances.

However, he remains optimistic about his team’s potential and is determined to address areas for improvement ahead of their upcoming fixture.

Uganda will seek redemption as they prepare to take on Wales in their second match on April 13th.

With valuable lessons learned from their tournament opener, the team is poised to showcase their resilience and fighting spirit in pursuit of a positive result.

Thursday 11th April 2024.

Paraguay U16 vs Uganda U16 – 4:30pm EAT

In a flurry of excitement and determination, the Uganda U16 women’s national team is primed and ready to make their mark on the global stage as they gear up for their inaugural group B match against Paraguay on Thursday evening in the UEFA Invitational Friendship Tournament at Hasan Dogan national teams camp and training facility in Istanbul, Turkey.

With anticipation mounting and expectations high, Head Coach Charles Ayiekoh and Captain Ritah Nambusi have both expressed unwavering confidence in the squad’s abilities.

Coach Ayiekoh emphasized the team’s preparation and readiness for the challenge ahead.

“We have been diligently preparing for this moment, focusing on both physical conditioning and tactical strategies to ensure that we are fully equipped to compete at the highest level,” remarked Ayiekoh in a pre-match press conference.

Leading the charge on the field, Captain Nambusi exuded a sense of leadership and determination that has become emblematic of the team’s ethos.

“We are ready for the tournament. The teams are all good but we are better and we want to show and prove this in the first game against Paraguay. We are not daunted. Instead, we see it as an opportunity to showcase the talent and resilience of Ugandan women’s football,” stated Nambusi, in full confidence.

The UEFA Invitational Friendship Tournament, held in Istanbul, Turkey, serves as a platform for emerging talents to test their mantle against international competition and foster camaraderie among nations. For Uganda who are in group B with China, Paraguay and Wales, this tournament represents a significant milestone in their journey to establish themselves as a force to reckon with in women’s football.

As the spotlight shines on Uganda and Paraguay in their Group B opener, women football lovers can expect an exhilarating display of skill, determination, and sportsmanship.

With Coach Ayiekoh’s strategic acumen guiding them from the sidelines and Captain Nambusi leading by example on the pitch, the Uganda U16 women’s national team is poised to leave an indelible mark on the tournament and inspire a new generation of footballers back home.