Category: Latest News

The FUFA Drum

1^st Leg Final

30^th September 2018

Buganda Province Vs West Nile Province

Bishops Ground, Mukono

Buganda and West Nile tacticians have named players to feature in the 1^st leg encounter of the FUFA Drum Final at Bishops Ground in Mukono on Sunday 30^th September 2018.

The maiden final will be played on a home and away format that will see Buganda Province host West Nile Province in the 1^st leg.

Buganda Province head coach Isabirye Alex Musongola named 20 players for the job.

In his squad, Musongola included Onduparaka FC players  Goalkeeper Nicholas Sebwato, Vianne Sekajugo and Muhammad Hassan who missed the semifinal return leg against Bukedi Province in Tororo. KCCA FC striker Patrick Kaddu also returned to the list after missing the 2^nd leg semifinal.

Ethiopian based midfielder Yasser Mugerwa is not part of the squad since he returned to  Ethiopian side Fasil Kenama. He featured in the semifinal 1^st leg and made the assist for Allan Kayiwa’s goal against Bukedi.

The rest of the squad has Ssebwalunyo Hannington (Bul FC), Kigongo Ronald (URA FC), Kagimu Shafik (URA FC), Abudallah Nyanzi (URA FC), Joel Mutakubwa (Tooro United FC), Allan Kayiwa (Tooro United FC), Baker Buyala (Tooro United FC), Muyanja Derrick (Kyetume FC), Ssentongo Robert (Kyetume FC), Musa Magulu (Kyetume FC), Kaddu Patrick Henry (KCCA FC), Brian Majwega (Maroons FC), Walusimbi Solomon (Maroons FC), Jooga Rajab (Seeta United FC), Walusimbi Enock (Bright Stars FC), Birikwalira Dan (Bright Stars FC), and Savio Kabugo (SC Villa)

On the other hand, West Nile head Coach Umar Abudallah Loi also confirmed his Sqaud of 22 players ahead of the 1^st leg clash.

Key players Toha Rashid, Okocha Rashid, Eturude Abel, Ayko Richard and Ezra Bida return to the squad after missing the 2^nd leg semifinal against Busoga Province.

KCCA FC midfielder Gift Ali will not feature for West Nile due to injury problems but Maroons FC player Agau Rashid replaces him in the squad.

Gadafi Wahab and Ceaser Okhuti of Onduparaka FC were not summoned as they are nursing injuries.

West Nile Squad has Ajaib Nafian (URA), Anyama Richard(Onduparaka FC), Atendele Geriga (Koboko Rising Stars)

Kizza Mustafa (KCCA FC), Toha Rashid Freedom (Onduparaka FC), Sabir Nesta Rajab (Kirinya JSS FC),Obenchan Filbert (KCCA FC), Ayko Richard (Onduparaka FC), Okocha Rashid (Onduparaka FC), Orombi Ronald (Maroons FC), Feni Ali (Wakiso Giants), Tabu Vitalis (URA) Agau Rashid (Maroons FC)

Abel Eturude (Onduparaka FC) , Faizal, Oromcan Villa (BUL FC), Amaku Fred (Kirinya JSSS FC)), Omwony Brian (Free Agent), Rwothomiu Cromwel (Paidha Black Angles), Hassan Fatib (Sevilla B), Chika Sydney (Maroons FC), and Bida Ezra (Onduparaka FC)

Both teams meet for the first time in the tournament. Buganda has lost 2 games in the competition while West Nile is unbeaten.

Meanwhile, FUFA confirmed  Olemu George as the center referee, 1^st assistant Mwesigwa Ronald and 2^nd assistant Referee 2 Sajjabi Geofrey plus the  Fourth Official Madanda Ronald all from Eastern region. The Match Assessor is Rose Rwamuyamba Kitara while Match Commissioner will be Lajan Livingstone

The 1^st leg match will kick off at 4:00pm on Sunday

MAIN PHOTO: Wet Nile Province team that started against Busoga in the 2nd Leg semifinal of The FUFA Drum in Jinja.

The FUFA Drum Final 2018

First Leg (30^th September 2018): Buganda vs West Nile – Bishop SS, Mukono

Return Leg (6^th October 2018): West Nile vs Buganda – Green Light stadium, Arua

Buganda Province will host West Nile in the first leg of the highly anticipated FUFA Drum final after the draws were held on Wednesday during the FUFA weekly press conference in Mengo. The trophy was also for the first time presented to the media. The FUFA CEO, Edgar Watson delivered the trophy to the press conference room.

The first leg of the inaugural edition will take place on 30^th September 2018 with Buganda Province hosting West Nile at Bishop SS, Mukono and the return leg at Green Light stadium in Arua is slated for 6^th October 2018.

Speaking about the impact of the tournament in its first edition, FUFA President, Eng. Moses Magogo indicated there has been a lot of positives achieved and is confident the future is bright.

‘I congratulate the two Provinces that managed to reach the finals. It is always important to be the first in attaining anything. As FUFA, we are proud with the team that organised the tournament right from the start and we can comfortably say we achieved our targets’  said Magogo before adding;

‘Our first target was to give footballers more playing time and that has been achieved. Additionally, we want to use football as a unifying factor and it was evident in so many places where the games were played’

The FUFA President went ahead to point out places like Arua, Fort Portal and Gulu where people came out in big numbers and stated the future is bright.

‘We have a story to tell after the end of the first edition. The Buganda anthem was played in Gulu for the first time in a long time, the Omukama of Tooro watched a game at Buhinga stadium and people paid to watch a game in Karamoja’ noted teh former football player Eng. Magogo.

At the same press briefing, West Nile and Buganda were represented with captain Abdu Malik Vitalis Tabu and assistant captain Rajab Jooga respectively who vowed to emerge champions.

Tabu indicated West Nile is focused on making sure they win the title and are unfazed about meeting Buganda in the final. Vitalis picked the ball that had a paper indicating Away fixture for the 1st leg.

‘I first want to thank FUFA and the President for organizing such a tournament which gives us a sense of belonging and celebrating our ancestry. As West Nile, we are prepared to make sure we win the title. We are not afraid of Buganda because we have the ability to defeat any team. This is a walk over. West Nile isn’t about Vitalis alone but very many people and star players. We have been praying for Buganda to reach the final from the onset of the tournament. Buganda will get to know what it means playing in West Nile’ said Tabu

Jooga stated that starting at home gives Buganda advantage and will complete the job away like it has been the case in the quarterfinals and the semifinals.

‘We have always started at home and been able to complete the task away. We therefore just call upon our fans to come in big numbers and rally behind us.  We are Buganda and must always remain on top. We enjoy starting the 1st leg matches at home then complete the job away. We have recorded many 1-0 wins but such scores are ideal during tournaments’ ‘ said Jooga who plays for Kyetume FC.

100 million shillings has been set aside for the inaugural edition in terms of prize money and it was also confirmed that both the first and return leg will be broadcast live on TV.

To reach the final, Buganda eliminated Bukedi province while West Nile edged past Busoga in the semifinals.

MAIN PHOTO: L-R West Nile Province Captain Vitalis Tabu, FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo and Buganda Province assistant captain Rajab Jooga holding the FUFA Drum trophy at FUFA House on Wednesday