Uganda’s head of state, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has the hope the one day, the national football team, The Uganda Cranes will qualify for the most coveted sports tournament in the whole world, the FIFA World Cup and win it as well.
Museveni made the remarks as he hosted the entourage of the FIFA World Cup trophy tour at his lavish Entebbe based State House on Monday.
Speaking with authority, the President, reading from a written speech noted;
Uganda is a footballing country and we hope that at one time, we shall win this cup and retain it in this country.
This may take a few years considering that the teams from developed countries train from advanced grounds while Uganda still has raw talent
President Museveni also said the visit was symbolic as it showed FIFA’s confidence in Uganda’s competitiveness.
This is a rare opportunity for Uganda, this visit is also symbolic in that it shows FIFA’s confidence in Uganda by recognizing our competitive abilities, however, Uganda with raw talent almost qualified but narrowly lost heading to Russia.
It will also draw attention to our country and boost tourism.
Uganda is now ranked 71st out of the 211 FIFA ountries but we plan on improving the ranking hopefully by 2022.
I congratulate Uganda Cranes the job well done in the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers.
Sports is a tool for entertainment, leisure, physical fitness and for competition and as well, enhancing good health and providing employment.
The FIFA World Cup trophy entourage had set foot at Entebbe International Airport, Uganda from Cape Tour city on Monday morning.
The ambassador of Russia in Uganda H.E. Alexander Dmitrievich Polyakov, Uganda’s Foreign Affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, FUFA President and also the CAF Executive Committee member Moses Magogo, FUFA CEO Edgar Watson, State sports minister Charles Bakabulindi, other FUFA officials, government ministers, ministry of education and sports officials.
On Tuesday, there will be a public viewing by all Ugandans at the Lugogo Cricket oval on 6th March 2018 before the trophy heads to Nigeria on 7th March.
Uganda is among the 10 African countries where the FIFA Cup trophy will visit.
The others are Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Africa, Nigeria, Cote D’ivoire, Senegal and Egypt.
