2017 Airtel Masaza football tourney:
- Tentative kick off: 6th May 2017
- Buddu Vs Mawogola – Masaka Recreational Stadium, Masaka (4:00 p.m)
The 18 football teams in the 2017 Airtel Buganda Masaza tournament will share at least Ug.shs 90M.
According to the Kingdom Minister of Youth, Leisure and Sports, Owek. Henry Ssekabembe Kiberu, the money is to facilitate the respective Masaza teams in preparations for the annual tournament.
Tournament official sponsors Airtel Uganda and Centenary Bank have provided the financial resources and necessary logistics with at least Ug.shs 5M, two of playing jerseys and 5 balls apiece for each team.
Ssekabembe has the expectations that this year’s tournament will progress smoothly with such assured partners on board.
Unlike in the previous times when some teams failed to honour their away games, this time round we expect no such stories since there is assured sponsorship to start with
It has been almost a norm for teams such as Buvuma, Mawogola and Kooki that have a history of forfeiting their away games as a result of limited funds to transport players and officials alike.
Discipline:
Ssekabembe fronts and preaches good discipline at all times from players, officials and fans throughout the duration of the tournament.
This tournament is here to first of all foster and forge unity among all the Kabaka Mutebi II subjects.
We therefore expect paramount discipline from all stake holders – fans, players and officials for the betterment of the tournament.
Some products from the Masaza tournament:
The tourney has been always provided a fertile ground to showcase virtually unknown entities to the rich football market.
Raw players’ potentiality has come to the limelight with hundreds of testimonials of now famous, rich and prosperous players who played the Masaza Cup from scratches.
Striker Brian Umony was a darling at Kyadondo back in the days before he was tapped on by KCCA.
Emmanuel Okwi (Mawokota), Mike Sserumaga (Mawokota), Yassar Mugerwa (Gomba), Ivan ‘Ngong’ Bukenya (Mawogola), Sula ‘Malouda’ Matovu (Mawogola), Godfrey Walusimbi (Mawokota), Farouk Miya (Butaambala), Robert Odongkara (Mawogola), Ivan Anguyo (Gomba), Lawrence Ssonko (Bulemeezi, Singo), Robert Mukongottya (Buddu), Andrew Kyekulidde (Gomba), Fred Kyambadde (Bulemeezi and Singo), Nicholas Lubowa (Busiro), Robert Kalumba (Bulemeezi), Muzamiru Mutyaba (Mawogola), Yunus Sentamu (Bulemeezi), Nelson Senkatuka (Bulemeezi), Edrisa Lubega (Singo), Alex Ikanga (Gomba), Fiti Kagolo (Kooki), Mahdi Mukiri (Kooki and Mawogola), Muhammed Ssekebba (Buddu), Joseph Jjanjali (Buddu) and many others are some of the living examples that have lived large as graduates of the Masaza tournament.
Such players have ascended the ladders of development from unknown personalities to good local and professional clubs.
In fact, most of the well scripted Masaza products have played for the Uganda under age teams and the senior side, Uganda Cranes.
Tentative kick off date:
As it stands, reigning champions Buddu have been confirmed to host the official opening match on 6th May 2017 against Mawogola at the Masaka Recreational stadium.
The Masaza football tournament is associated with big crowds of passionate spectators who are always eager to cheer their respective teams.
During the last two editions, Nelson Mandela National Stadium, Namboole has been hosting the final match where historic crowds have watched the finales won by Singo and Buddu in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
For starters, His Majesty the Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II graces the official opening and closing ceremonies of the Masaza tournament.