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Tooro United Football Club has gained promotion to the Uganda Premier League after edging Kigezi Homeboyz 1-0 in the last game of the regular season.
Striker Marvin Oshaba who has been phenomenal for the side throughout the 2021 FUFA Big League season netted the all-important goal.
The decisive goal arrived in the 27th minute from the penalty spot and Tooro United defended for their lives the rest of the game.
Edward Golola, the head coach of Tooro United, attributed the club’s success to collective effort right from the top management.
“It has been teamwork from all the parties at play; the club top management, my fellow coaches, leaders, players, and the sponsor 1XBet. We shall plan for the new upcoming season in the Uganda Premier League,” Golola told the press after securing promotion.
Lawrence Kigonya, the captain of Ntaale Za Tooro who return to the top flight after just a season in the second division, saluted the fighting spirit that they had right from the opening stages of the season.
“We had a special fighting spirit right from kick-off of the season. Teamwork and the right mentality drove us further,” Kigonya stated.
Tooro United topped Rwenzori group to earn the ticket to the Premier League while in the other group (Elgon), West Nile’s Arua Hill earned direct promotion.
Arua Hill eased past fellow West Nile side Paidha Black Angels 4-0 at the Barifa playground to earn promotion unbeaten.
The third club to join the top division will be determined via a promotional playoff involving four clubs; Gaddafi, Blacks Power, Proline, and Nyamityobora.
Ugandan long distance runner Joshua Cheptegei feels luck wasn’t on his side as he finished a distant sixth at the 2021 Diamond League meet in Florence, Italy on Thursday.
Cheptegei was in pole position to claim the race but ran out of steam in the final split of the race to pave way for wintner 20-year old Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigsten.
The Kapchorwa-based star took control of the 5000m race through three splits (2000m, 3000m, and 4000m) but relinquished victory in the final stretch.
The Kapchorwa-based athlete posted a season’s best of 12:54.69 but couldn’t come close to Jakob’s 12:48:45 – a European record, also the fastest run this year.
Speaking after the race, Cheptegei said there is room for better performances for the Silverback after the tough outing in Florence.
“Yesterday was not my day. But the Silverback will keep on fighting towards the Olympics in Tokyo!!! Huge congratulations to Jakob Ingebrigtsen for your amazing European Record,” he wrote on social media.
The race was the 10,000m world record holder’s last race before the Tokyo Olympics set for July 23 to 8 August.
Ugandan female sprinter Sida Leni is happy about her performance after after she ran a season’s best at the World Athletics Continental tour in Geneva on Saturday.
Leni clocked 51.81 to cross the tape sixth place and even though her time is still short of the Olympic qualification mark for the women’s 400m (51.35), she said she was impressed by her new milestone.
Moments after the race, Leni shared on her Instagram page; “Happy with my progress here in Geneva. A season’s best of 51.81 – still chasing the Olympic standard, getting closer.
She added; “I will keep giving it everything as I go for my dreams. Thanks for having me at your amazing meeting @atleticageneve.”
For Shida to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, she will need to display a better performance than that of the 400m Silver Medal (51.64) at the 2019 World University Games held in Naples, Italy.
When Tooro United appointed Edward Golola in August last year, he made a promise to promote them to the Uganda Premier League.
In his remarks during the unveiling on August 12, Golola described the decision to appoint him as wise stating that he is winning a coach.
Fast forward to June 2021, Golola has guided the side to promotion by topping Rwenzori Group ahead of Proline as his side saw off Kigezi Home Boyz 1-0 on the final day of the regular season.
“It was not a simple game, the visitors had no pressure like us but my boys managed to follow instructions and kept in character,” he said after edging Kigezi before summing up the whole season. “It was not an easy season but am happy that I have fulfilled my goal.”
Tooro United were relegated last season when the league was abruptly ended with five games to play due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus that still hits the world.
Alongside Arua Hill from the Elgon Group, they will be joined by the winner of the playoffs amongst Proline, Nyamityobora, Blacks Power, and Gaddafi FC.
Ugandan long distance runner Joshua Cheptegei has vowed to keep fighting as he approaches the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The Kapchorwa-based athlete was talking up his fortunes after finishing a distant sixth at the 2021 Diamond League meet in Italy.
The 10,000m world record holder ran a 5000m race but got too exhausted to finish strong as expected, relinquishing victory to 20-year old Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigsten.
Cheptegei posted a season’s best of 12:54.69 while Jakob ran 12:48:45 – a European record, also the fastest run this year.
Speaking after the race, Cheptegei said; “Yesterday was not my day. But the Silverback will keep on fighting towards the Olympics in Tokyo!!!
He added; “Huge congratulations to Jakob Ingebrigtsen for your amazing European Record.”
The race was the 2019 Doha World Championships gold medallist’s last race before the Tokyo Olympics set for July 23 to 8 August.
Uganda Cranes captain Emmanuel Okwi feels the team will build on the positives ahead of their 2022 World qualifying in October.
The outfit lost 3-2 to South Africa with Abdul Lumala and Ibrahim Orit scoring the goals for the visitors. Evidence Makgopa and Bongokuhle Hlongwane delivered for hosts.
Speaking after the match, Okwi said; “I believe we have had a reality check against such a very good opponent. We still have a lot more to do before the World Cup qualifiers come around in a few months.
He added; “But depending on today’s game, there were a lot of positives especially with the young and new players coming into the team and I believe we shall build on that to be ready come September.”
The Uganda Cranes were without regulars Nicholas Wadada, Joseph Ochaya, Khalid Aucho and Luwagga Kizito among others who were left out.
It was also the first game since the experienced trio of Denis Onyango, Hassan Wasswa and Mike Azira retired.
Uganda Cranes coach Abdallah Mubiru has rued a questionable second half that saw the national team side lose to South Africa 3-2 on Thursday.
The Cranes were playing a build match to gauge the status of the team ahead of 2022 World Cup qualifying.
The visitors deservedly led 1-0 at half-time through a 17th-minute header from Ibrahim Orit but Bafana debutant Evidence Makgopa levelled on 62 minutes.
Bongokuhle Hlongwane elevated the home side’s status when he dribbled into the box five minutes later and his deflected shot entered the net.
A close-range shot from Makgopa further extended the lead before Abdu Lumala found a consolation goal one minute from the end of regular time.
Mubiru talked up the match saying; “It was completely two different halves. We had a good performance in the first half.
“We didn’t allow opponents to shoot on goal. In the second half, we switched off and Bafana Banana punished us.”
Uganda is in Group E alongside Mali, Kenya and Rwanda. Uganda hosts Kenya in the first week of October and later ends the premiliminary group phase with a trip to Bamako, Mali between 10th-12th October.
Joshua Cheptegei ran his final race prior to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games next month.
The 5000m world record holder took on a competitive field over that distance during the third meeting of the 2021 Diamond League in Florence, Italy on Thursday night.
Cheptegei ran ahead after the first kilometer, took charge of the next three splits (2000m, 3000m, and 4000m) and looked on course for a routine victory but fell off in the final couple of laps to finish in 6th place.
He clocked 12:54.69 as Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigsten won the race with a world-leading, a Personal Best and a European Record of 12:48.45.
Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet came second with a time of 12:49.02, followed by Ahmed Mohamed (Canada), Katir Mohamed (Spain) and Knight Justyn (Canada) in what was a fast race.
Meanwhile, two other Ugandans took the track on the night.
Winnie Nanyondo, despite failing to break the four-minute barrier, ran her season-best in the 1500m crossing the finish line in 4:00.84, good enough for fifth place while in the Men’s 3000m steeplechase, Albert Chemutai’s season-best 8:23.96 placed him 10th.
The rebuilding process for Uganda Cranes started on a sour note following a 3-2 defeat to South Africa on Thursday night at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg.
Cranes led 1-0 at the break but surrendered the advantage thanks to a strong second-half performance from the Bafana Bafana in the first international friendly.
Vipers Sports Club attacker Ibrahim Orit gave Uganda a 16th-minute lead. Orit crowned the Cranes counter-attack with a diving header at the back post off a well-laid delivery from skipper Emmanuel Okwi.
Abdallah Mubiru’s charges were on the back foot after the break and in the 64th minute, they gave in to the pressure from their hosts as Evidence Makgoba slid home the equalizer off Thabiso Kutumela low delivery.
Four minutes later, the hosts were celebrating again. Hlongwane Bongokuhle beat his man (Mustafa Kizza) with quick feet before curling home to give South Africa the lead.
Makgoba sliced through Cranes defence before firing home the third for Bafana Bafana.
Abdul Lumala came off the bench to poke in Uganda’s second goal off Mustafa Kizza’s corner in the 89th minute but it was little too late for Cranes to get a late equalizer.
Team Lineups
Bafana Bafana XI: Ronwen Williams, Innocent Maela, Rushine De Reuck, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Sibusiso Mabiliso, Denwin Farmer, Ethan Brooks, Lebohang Maboe, Craig Martin, Sphelele Mkhulise, Bongokuhle Hlongwane.
Uganda Cranes XI: Ismael Watenga, Paul Willa, Mustafa Kizza, Halid Lwaliwa, Murushid Juuko, Taddeo Lwanga, Shafiq Kagimu, Moses Waiswa, Ibrahim Orit, Emmanuel Okwi, Allan Okello
Uganda Cranes head coach Abdallah Mubiru has named the team that will start against South Africa in an international friendly game on Thursday.
New skipper Emmanuel Arnold Okwi will start his role today, leading the team for the first time since he was named the captain, replacing Denis Onyango who retired in April.
Ismail Watenga who returns to the national team for the first time since 2016 (CHAN in Rwanda) starts in goal. The lanky shot-stopper had a good end to the season with Chippa United in his debut campaign.
The backline has Paul Willa and Musitafa Kizza as the right and left backs respectively while Murushid Juuko and Halid Lwaliwa are the center-backs.
In a 4-3-3 system, the three midfielders are Taddeo Lwanga, Moses Waiswa, and Shafik Kagimu.
Okwi leads the attacking line alongside left-footed forward Allan Okello and Ibrahim Orit.
Substitutes: Mathias Kigonya (GK), Charles Lukwago (GK), Paul Mbowa, Enoch Walusimbi, Muhamood Hassan, Derrick Kakooza, Steven Sserwadda, Steven Mukwala, Ibrahim Mugulusi, Abdu Lumala