Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi, the head coach of Uganda’s U20 Women’s team, has summoned four new players to join the squad that is preparing to face Kenya in the return leg of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.

Winnie Kwatulira, Phiona Nabulime, Ronah Regina Nantege, and Allen Nassazi joined the team currently in camp at FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.

The quartet took part in Wednesday’s training sessions and Kiyingi believes they will bring about positive energy and healthy competition.

“The purpose of summoning the four players is to re-energize the squad and have healthy competition so that the 20 that made it to Kenya don’t get complacent

“They are good players and if you see what they offered in the first training session is encouraging,” he said.

Despite whipping Kenya in the first leg with a 7-2 score, the gaffer maintains they are not resting on the laurels and expects the same fighting spirit as it was before the first leg.

“The players were getting a bit relaxed which I’m trying to drive away. We could have registered a good result but that doesn’t mean the tie is finished. We have to carry the same energy and commitment as we had in the first game,” he added.

Uganda will face Kenya in the return leg on 8th October 2021 at St. Mary’s Stadium with the winner on aggregate facing either South Africa or Mozambique at the second qualifying round.

The Uganda Premier League secretariat has released draft fixtures for the 2021-22 season.

Notably missing on the fixture is Busoga United who apparently have not been cleared by the Fufa Licensing Committee. They will however be included on the fixture once they meet the minimum requirements.

The season will kick off on October 15, 2021, and the first round will end on January 9, 2022.

Express Football Club will start their title defense at home to league newcomers Arua Hill Sports Club.

2021-22 UPL Draft Fixture | Matchday One

Friday, October 15

• Express FC Vs. Arua Hill SC – Betway Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku
• Mbarara City FC Vs. Soltilo Bright Stars FC – Kakyeka Stadium, Mbarara City
• Onduparaka FC Vs. UPDF FC – Green Light Stadium, Arua City

Sunday, October 17

• Police FC Vs. Vipers SC – MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo
• Wakiso Giants FC Vs. KCCA FC – Kabaka Kyabaggu Sports Stadium, Wakiso
• SC Villa Vs. BUL FC – (Venue TBC)

Tuesday, October 23

• URA FC Vs. Tooro United FC – (Venue TBC)

The Crested Cranes of Uganda kicked off their Cosafa Women’s Championship campaign with a goalless draw against Namibia.

In a Group C game of limited chances, nothing could separate the two sides at the Madibaz Stadium in Port Elizabeth, sharing the points in the end.

Uganda will rue a few missed half-chances on the day that Viola Namuddu and Sandra Nabweteme couldn’t put away in the first half.

Namibia had the better chances in the second half with goalie Ruth Aturo called to cation on three occasions.

The introduction of Laki Otandeka, Aminah Nababi, and Spencer Nakachwa did not sway the game to Uganda’s favour but the latter had Crested Cranes’ only shot at goal in the second half.

Uganda’s head coach George Lutalo was disappointed by the result.

“We came purposely to get maximum points, it’s the players that have to play. They have to show us what they can do. The draw was not exactly what we wanted,” Lutalo said in the aftermath of the game.

“We created the chances but we failed to score. We hope to do better in the next games.”

In the other Group C game played, Zambia whitewashed Eswatini 5-0. Ochumba Lubandji scored a hat-trick, while Margaret Belemu and substitute Esther Mukwasa netted the other goals.

The Crested Cranes who are using the tournament as preparation for the African Women Qualification tie against Ethiopia return to action on Sunday, October 3 against Eswatini and will face Zambia two days later.

Uganda Cranes coach Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has trimmed the training squad of home-based players by dropping five after just three days of camp.

The team is preparing for back-to-back 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying fixtures against regional rivals Rwanda to be played next month.

The dropped players are Vipers’ midfielder David Bagoole, Wakiso Giants’ left back George Kaddu, UPDF’s Ibrahim Wammanah, URA winger Joachim Ojera and new KCCA signing Davis Kasirye.

A number of foreign-based players will join the camp early next week ahead of the games to be played on 7th October in Kigali and 10th October at Kitende.

Uganda lies third in Group E with two points from as many games while Rwanda is bottom with a single point.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Mutakubwa Joel (Express FC), Alionzi Nafian (URA FC), Tamale Simon (Soltilo Bright Stars FC)

Defenders: Willa Paul (Vipers SC), Wafula Innocent (KCCA FC), Mandela Ashraf (URA FC), Achai Herbert (KCCA FC), Kayondo Abdu Aziizi (Vipers SC), Walusimbi Enock (Express FC), Iguma Denis (KCCA FC), Najib Fesali (URAFC), Mulondo Livingstone (Vipers SC), Wasswa Geoffrey (KCCA FC), Ramadan Musa (KCCA FC)

Midfielders: Byaruhanga Bobosi (Vipers SC), Mbowa Patrick (URA FC), Kakooza Mahad (Express FC), Kagimu Shafik(URA FC), Karisa Milton (Vipers SC), Mato Rogers, Poloto Julius (KCCA FC), Orit Ibrahim (Vipers SC), Kizza Martin (Express FC)

Strikers: Sentamu Yunus (Vipers SC), Mukwala Stephen (URA FC), Rwothomio Cromwell (URA FC), Anaku Sadat (KCCA FC), Aheebwa Brian (KCCA FC

Mbarara City Football Club has announced Hussein Mbalangu as their head coach on an interim basis.

The Ankole Lions made the announcement on Tuesday and the CAF A licenced coach will be assisted by Ahmed Ssenyange.

Mbalangu replaces Kefa Kisala who had been in charge of the club since August but quit reportedly due to player recruitment policy.

🅦🅔🅛🅒🅞🅜🅔 🅗🅞🅜🅔
K̶e̶f̶a̶ ̶K̶i̶s̶a̶l̶a̶ ̶ ❌
𝗛𝗨𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗜𝗡 𝗠𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗨 ✅
Mbalangu will be the 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 for the mean time until the Club Management decides on who to be the Head Coach.#OurClubOurCity#AnkoleLions🦁 pic.twitter.com/pJuxngnv5p

— Mbarara City FC Official (@TeamMbararaCity) September 28, 2021

Mbalangu has coached Bugoba, The Saints FC (now defunct), Buganda Regional League side Azam, Somalia top tier entity Mogadishu City Council (MCC), Kyaggwe (in Buganda Masaza Cup) and recently Arua Hill (in the Fufa Big League).

Mbarara City added Aaron Okoth, Arigumaho Seiri, Solomon Okello, Donald Ivan Otude, Frank Kalule, Sadat Nsubuga and teenager Thomas Kakaire to their playing staff.

Draws for the opening circuit of the 2021 National Rugby Sevens series (Mileke Sevens) were held on Tuesday evening at Kyadondo.

Circuit hosts Warriors were drawn in Pool A along with Series defending champions Kobs, Rams and Mongers’ development side Jjengo. The circuit will take place this weekend (October 2-3) at Legends Rugby Grounds.

Black Pirates were drawn in Pool B alongside their development side Sailors, Impis, and Jaguars. Sailors attained core status after winning the qualification tournament in 2019.

Heathens are in Pool C alongside Hippos, Rhinos and Pacers while Pool D has Mongers, Buffaloes, Stallions, and Rams 2.

Mileke Sevens Pool draws (Invitational Teams*)

• Pool A: Kobs, Warriors, Rams, Jjengo*
• Pool B: Black Pirates, Impis, Sailors, Jaguars*
• Pool C: Heathens, Jinja Hippos, Rhinos*, Pacers*
• Pool D: Buffaloes, Mongers, Stallions*, Rams 2*

The top two teams from each pool will progress to the Main Cup quarterfinals after which the winners will progress to the main cup semifinals while the losers will drop to the fifth place playoffs.

• QF 1: A1 vs D2
• QF 2: C1 vs B2
• QF 3: D1 vs A2
• QF 4: B1 vs C2

The bottom two teams from each pool will progress to a quarterfinal knockout phase of their own in which the winners will compete for the Challenge trophy and the losers for the 13th place playoffs.

• A3 vs D4
• C3 vs B4
• D3 vs A4
• B3 vs C4

The 2021 National Sevens Series will start this weekend with Warriors hosting the first circuit at Legends Rugby Club.

Mileke Sevens is the first of the six rounds that will be held across the country’s four regions from with the Central Region hosting three, including the series finale in November.

The Uganda Rugby Union (URU) is putting in motion the transition to multi-day sevens circuits, which will give the local players a feel of the standards at the international level.

The series is a mix of single-day circuits (for upcountry regions) and two-day circuits (in the Central region).

As has been the case, the 2021 series will be a 16-team competition with 10 core teams and 6 invitational teams in each circuit.

The ten core teams are Kobs (defending champions), Black Pirates, Jinja Hippos, Buffaloes, Mongers, Impis, Heathens, Warriors, Rams, and newly promoted Sailors. The invitational teams will be determined by URU for each circuit.

Series Dates

• Round 1: October 2-3 at Legends Rugby Grounds, Kampala City (Central circuit 1)
• Round 2: October 9 at Gulu Grounds, Gulu City (Northern circuit)
• Round 3: October 16 at Soroti Grounds, Soroti City (Eastern circuit)
• Round 4: October 30-31 at King’s Park Stadium, Kampala City (Central circuit 2)
• Round 5: November 6 at Kabale Stadium, Kabale Municipality (Western circuit)
• Round 6: November 13-14 at Legends Rugby Grounds, Kampala City (Central circuit 3)

Rwanda Amavubi Stars head coach Vincent Mashami has named a provisional squad for the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers double-header against Uganda.

The team has familiar faces to Ugandan football having played in the Uganda Premier League recently.

Vipers Sports Club midfielder Jamil Kalisa is part of the 36-man squad along with defenders Samuel Kato Nemeyimana, Denis Rukundo, and Isaac Nsengiyunva who have previously played for KCCA, Police, and Express FC respectively.

Kato, Rukundo, and Nsengiyuva currently ply their trade with Bugesera, AS Kigali, and Rayon Sport respectively in the Rwanda Premier League.

The squad also has experienced stars as Haruna Niyonzima, Jacques Tuyisenge, Meddie Kagere, and Yannick Mukunzi.

Umutoza mukuru w'Ikipe y'Igihugu @AmavubiStars yahamagaye abakinnyi 36 agomba kwifashisha mu mikino 2 u Rwanda rugomba gukina na Uganda.

Umukino ubanza uzabera i Kigali ku wa 7 Ukwakira mu gihe uwo kwishyura uzaba ku wa 10 Ukwakira 2021.

📝https://t.co/S0lgY5JYi7 pic.twitter.com/AD3Ya2pAaz

— Rwanda FA (@FERWAFA) September 27, 2021

Rwanda will host the first leg at Regional Stadium, Nyamirambo on October 6 and then visit Uganda four days later at St. Mary’s stadium, Kitende.

Rwanda has picked just one point from two games and is bottom of Group E while Uganda is on two points.

George Lutalo, the head coach of Uganda Crested Cranes, is optimistic the team will perform well at the forth-coming Cosafa Women’s Championship.

The team left for South Africa in the wee hours of Monday ahead of the tournament that kicks off on Tuesday, September 28.

The 20-man squad named is comprised of two goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders, and six forwards.

“We have had about two weeks of preparations and the final 20 players named are those that excelled in training. I have the belief that the team named will do well in South Africa,” Lutalo said.

Uganda, playing at the annual tournament for the second time, is in Group C alongside Zambia, Eswatini, and Namibia.

The first game for the Crested Cranes will be played on Thursday, 30th September against Eswatini.

Crested Cranes competed in the championship in 2018 and finished third.

Crested Cranes Squad

Goalkeepers: Ruth Aturo (UCU Lady Cardinals FC), Daisy Nakaziro (Lady Doves FC)

Defenders: Viola Namuddu (Makerere University WFC), Shadia Nankya (UCU Lady Cardinals FC), Eunice Ariokot (Olila High School WFC), Bridget Nabisaalu (She Corporate FC), Phoebe Banura (UCU Lady Cardinals FC), Asia Nakibuuka (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC)

Midfielders: Joan Nabirye(Vihiga Queens FC), Reticia Nabbosa (Lady Doves FC), Sheebah Zalwango (Asubo Gafford Ladies FC), Phiona Nabbumba (She Corporate FC), Spencer Nakacwa (Lady Doves FC), Amina Nababi (Makerere University WFC),

Forwards: Hasifa Nassuna (UCU Lady Cardinals FC), Sharon Naddunga (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Resty Nanziri (Kampala Queens FC), Sandra Nabweteme (Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar, Iceland), Laki Otandeka Kanyesigye (New Jersey Copa FC, USA), Norah Alupo (Lady Doves FC)

Officials

• Leader of Delegation – Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi
• Head Coach – George Lutalo
• Assistant Coach – Edward Kaziba
• Goalkeeping Coach – James Magala
• Team Doctor – Meble Katabalindwa
• Kits Manager – Prossy Nalwadda
• Media Officer – Faridah Tomusange Nassejje

Long-distance runner Jacob Kiplimo claimed the National Mountain Running Championships in Kapchorwa on Sunday.

Jacob Kiplimo casually won the Ugandan National Mountain Running Championship yesterday
So many fans there! pic.twitter.com/rwe5mtzEC8

— Emily Evans (@RunEmilyERun) September 26, 2021

The 2020 Olympic Tokyo bronze medallist Kiplimo comfortably reached the finish line of the 12.5km race in 41:30.3.

Mathew Chepkwurui came second in 42:5.79 while Kevin Kibet took third place in 43:09.50.

Kiplimo wants to defend the 2020 World Half Marathon he won on 17 October 2020 in 58:49 before turning to the 2022 Commonwealth games.

“I decided to participate in the National Mountain Championships as a launching pad to achieve my set goals. And I have to start early preparations,” he told URN.

“I have lined up national and international build-ups to the competitions I am targeting.”

Annet Chelangat Chemengich won the women’s category in 51:10.2. Doreen Chemutai who crossed the finishing line second in 52:16.1.