menu close

Suggestions

Big League: Blacks Power... Ssenyondo pleased with Uganda... Uganda Cubs fall to... Baby Cricket Cranes suffer... Mbarara City hold BUL...

Top athletes

Hasifah Nassuna

Fauzia Najjemba

Gloria Namakula

Margaret Kunihira

Catherine Nagadya

Phiona Nabbumba

Samalie Nakacwa

Ismail Watenga

Ivan Ahimbisibwe

Riticia Nabbosa

Daisy Nakaziro

Top stories

Big League: Blacks Power edge Kataka in Mbale
Ssenyondo pleased with Uganda Cubs second half performance in defeat to Morocco
Uganda Cubs fall to Morocco in AFCON U-17

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.

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

Tooro United coach Edward Golola is focused on helping his side gain promotion to the top tier but does not rule out a return to Kitende to manage Vipers SC.

The most successful coach in Vipers history was relieved of his job in January 2020 but is doing a commendable job with Tooro United who are just a win away from returning to the UPL.

“For now, all my attention with his helping Tooro United gain promotion,” said Golola after his side drew goalless with Luwero United in the penultimate Fufa Big League game in the Rwenzori Group. “But if a chance comes to manage Vipers again, I will take it but only after promoting Tooro United.”

Golola was replaced by Fred Kajoba after the first round of the 2019/20 season but remains the greatest coach in Vipers history after guiding them to two league titles (2010 & 2015) and was also part of the technical team that lifted their last title in 2018.

Vipers SC are currently under the interim management of Paul Kiwanuka after Kajoba resigned a couple of weeks ago.

They are third on the UPL table with four games to play and are in the semi-finals of the Stanbic Uganda Cup.

Abdallah Mubiru has named Uganda Cranes final squad to face South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in an international friendly.

The international friendly is scheduled for Saturday, 10th June 2021 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

The final 23-man squad has 15 players who ply their trade in the Uganda Premier League, including five Hippos graduates.

Aziz Kayondo, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Isma Mugulusi, Steven Sserwadda, and Derrick Kakooza as the five youngsters that were elevated from the U-20 team that featured at the AFCON U-20 finals early this year in Mauritania.

South Africa-based duo of goalkeeper Ismael Watenga (Chippa United) and SuperSport United midfielder Moses Waiswa will join the team once they touch base.

The team flies out on Monday night.

The Full Squad

Incumbent FUFA President Moses Magogo will seek a third term in office unopposed.

Magogo’s candidature was ratified on Monday by the FUFA Electoral Committee, Chairman, Mathias Bwiire.

Bwiire confirmed that of the three people who picked nomination forms last month, only the incumbent returned them successfully and met the required standards.

“By the powers entrusted to FUFA Electoral Committee, we hereby declare Hon. Moses Magogo and his Executive members as duly nominated with all requirements provided as the FUFA Electoral Code and statutes,” he announced.

The other two that had picked nomination forms included Proline FC director Mujib Kasule and Makindye West Member of Parliament, Allan Ssewanyana.

Kasule and Ssewanyana also picked forms in 2017 but still couldn’t meet the requirements as listed in the FUFA Statutes.

For any person to be eligible for the candidature of the Office of the FUFA President, he/she must served in one or a combination of any of the following positions for a total of at least 7 years in the last 10 years;

a) Executive Committee Member of CECAFA, CAF, FIFA

b) Executive Committee Member of FUFA

c) Chief Executive Officer /General Secretary of FUFA

d) FIFA Accredited Administration Instructor

e) Chairman of a Member of FUFA

On top of the above requirements, for one to be declared a Candidate, he/she must be seconded by at least three Members of FUFA in this case being a Uganda Premier League or FUFA Big League club, a Special Interest Group, and a football region.

Apparently, both Kasule and Ssewanyana failed to get the signatures and thus getting ruled out of the race and leaving Magogo as the only eligible candidate.

Magogo who is also the Member of Parliament for Budiope East, Buyende district will therefore need 50 percent plus one vote in the Ordinary General Assembly of 88 delegates slated for August 21 in Mbale.

Former Uganda Cranes captain Denis Onyango was named the Best Goalkeeper during the 2020-21 Premier Soccer League season.

Onyango was solid between the posts as Mamelodi Sundowns claimed their eleventh league title and in the process becoming the most successful player with eight winners medals.

For his incredible performance during the season, the Masandawana goalie was named the best of the season.

Onyango, through his social media platforms, dedicated the award to his family and thanked the people he has worked with during the difficult season.

Former Uganda Cranes captain Denis Onyango became the most successful player in terms of Premier Soccer League (PSL) winners’ medals with a record eight league titles.

Onyongo’s Mamelodi Sundowns were on Saturday crowned Premier Soccer League champions for the eleventh time.

This season’s triumph meant Onyango alongside his captain, Hlompho Kekana, are the most decorated players in the PSL history and Onyango couldn’t hide his joy and posted on his social media platforms.

All Onyango’s PSL titles

Onyango, who locally played for SC Villa, won three league titles with SuperSport United before joining Masandawana where he has now won five.

The PSL Goalkeeper of the Season would have been on nine titles but missed out on the 2013/14 title as he wasn’t given the winners’ medal in that season because he was on loan at Bidvest Wits.

Express Football Club sealed the fourth slot in the 2021 Stanbic Uganda Cup tournament semifinals.

The Red Eagles rallied to equalize against rivals KCCA as they played to a one-all draw at the MTN Omondi stadium, Lugogo on Friday, 4th June 2021.

Following a goalless opening 40 minutes, the game came to life in the 41st minute when KCCA forward Sadat Anaku gave the home side the lead with an explicit beautiful curl from about 25 yards into the roof of the net.

With the game destined in KCCA’s favour, team captain and goalkeeper Charles Lukwago did the unthinkable; planking his hand in the face of Charles Musiige.

Referee Ali Kaddu did not hesitate but point to the spot amidst protests from KCCA players.

Martin Kizza beat Lukwago from the resultant kick and level the game with 8 minutes left on the clock.

Express held on despite KCCA’s late pressure to progress to the semifinals on the away goal’s rule.

The first leg at the Betway Mutesa II Wankulukuku Stadium had ended goalless.

Fufa has backpedaled on its earlier decision that allowed up to 200 fans to watch games citing the surge in the number of positive coronavirus cases and deaths.

In a statement signed by Decolas Kiiza and circulated to all stakeholders, the decision was reached basing on the current statistics from the Ministry of Health.

“As you are all aware according to statistics from the Ministry of Health there is an upsurge in the number of COVID-19 cases as well as deaths in Uganda…,” reads the statement in part.

“FUFA had earlier allowed up to 200 fans to watches FUFA organised and FUFA authorized competitions with strong adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This is no longer tenable in the current situation.

“Therefore, in order to ensure the Health and Safety of players, Technical staff, and all stakeholders all matches shall be played without spectators or fans until further notice.”

All Fufa authorized competitions and those organized under the FA are all bound by the document including the Stanbic Uganda Cup that is in the later stages.  

“As we wind up the 1st Division, 2nd Division, and the Uganda Cup there shall be no fans in the stadium. Teams are further strongly encouraged to limit all other authorized personnel to the bear minimum. SOPs must be strictly observed and COVID-19 vaccination enhanced throughout the country.”

Last season, the Uganda Cup was cancelled while the league was halted with five games to play and Vipers SC were declared league champions.