Preparations to have a successful 41st final of the historic Uganda Cup are in a high gear by the sponsors (Stanbic Bank) as well as FUFA, under the dockets of competition, marketing and communications departments.
For starters, this is the oldest and arguably the most prestigious knock out tournament in Uganda.
The latest developments concerning organizing a great tourney are the quarter final draws set for Thursday at FUFA House as well as the inspection of playing fields and accommodation facilities in the host town of Kumi.
An eight man team from the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) conducted an inspection tour of facilities in Kumi Municipality, North East Region ahead of the 2017/18 Stanbic Uganda Cup final, slated for the 27th May 2018.
The inspection team was led by FUFA Executive committee members Hamid Juma, Agnes Mugena, Richard Ochom (also the mayor of Kumi Municipality), John Odong (Chairperson, North East Region Football Association), Hajjati Aisha Nalule (FUFA Competitions Director), Ahmed Hussein (FUFA Communications manager), Esther Musoke (FUFA Marketing Director) and the sponsor’s representative Obal.
Among the facilities inspected were the three proposed football fields; Boma play-ground, Kumi Technical School and Bishop Maraka College field.
Besides checking the playing surfaces of these fields, the inspection team also ascertained the availability of other facilities and issues as the dressing rooms (changing rooms), toilets, security concerns, the CSR project attached to the tournament (St Paul Catholic Church, Kumi) and others.
Also, hotels and lodges that will accommodate all the officials as well as the two finalists were checked.
Some of the hotels inspected included; Kumi Hotel, Plain Springs (along Osipiri road), North East Villa Resort, Pearl Hotel (Kanyumu road) and others.
Hamid Juma as quoted by the federation website noted;
We have conducted a tour of facilities in Kumi Municipality. We checked all the playing fields presented and the hotels as well as the project where the Social Corporate Responsibility cause will be aligned.
The details from the tour will be made public in the nearest future
Julius Okalany, the acting deputy head teacher at Kumi Technical School, one of the proposed venues was overwhelmed to receive the delegation from FUFA.
After a guided tour around the facility, Okalany lauded FUFA for the great efforts in promoting grass-root football through the FUFA Juniors League, Airtel Rising Stars and other programmes, as well as holding competitions as the Stanbic Uganda Cup.
“FUFA has done a lot of effort to promote grass root football through the FUFA Juniors league and ARS. We also thank FUFA for thinking about regions where tournament finals as the Stanbic Uganda Cup can be held” Okalany remarked.
Head teacher at Bishop Maraka College, Francis Ebenu warmly welcomed the delegation and expressed delight for FUFA touring his facility.
“We are happy to receive the delegation from FUFA who came specifically to access the readiness of our playing field. We shall be glad if the ground is picked for the finals of the 2018 Stanbic Uganda Cup” an excited Ebenu stated.
Meanwhile, the inspecting team also visited St Paul Catholic Church, Kumi the main beneficiary to the Corporate Social Responsibility cause attached to the tournament.
The FUFA officials interacted with the Parish Priest Rev. Father Charles Ochok, who expressed gratitude for FUFA’s generosity of helping the disadvantaged in the community.
The inspection team will convene and make a few resolutions before revisiting the facilities in the nearby future
Round of 16 Results:
- Kitara 4-0 Seeta United
- Mbarara City 0-3 Kansai Plascon
- Kira United 0-1 Vipers
- Ndejje University 0-1 Sports Club Villa Jogoo
- Soana 2 (3) – 2 (4) KCCA
- UPDF 0 (2) – 0 (4) Proline
- KJT 2-1 Bul
- Busula 1-2 Synergy
Uganda Cup (formerly Kakungulu cup) Winners since 1971:
- 1971 –Coffee F.C
- 1972-1975-Not Held
- 1976- Gangama F.C
- 1977- Simba F.C
- 1978 – Nsambya F.C
- 1979 – KCC F.C
- 1980 – KCC F.C
- 1981 – Coffee F.C
- 1982 – KCC F.C
- 1983 – SC Villa
- 1984 – KCC F.C
- 1985 – Express F.C
- 1986 – SC Villa
- 1987 – KCC F.C
- 1988 – SC Villa
- 1989 – SC Villa
- 1990 – KCC F.C
- 1991 – Express F.C
- 1992 – Express F.C
- 1993 – KCC F.C
- 1994 – Express F.C
- 1995 – Express F.C
- 1996 – UEB S.C
- 1997 – Express F.C
- 1998 – SC Villa
- 1999 – Mbale Heroes S.C
- 2000 – SC Villa
- 2001 – Express F.C
- 2002 – SC Villa
- 2003 – Express F.C
- 2004 – KCC F.C
- 2005 – URA F.C
- 2006 – Express F.C
- 2007 – Express F.C
- 2007/8 – Victors S.C
- 2008/9 – SC Villa
- 2009/10 – Victors S.C
- 2010/11 – Simba S.C
- 2011/12 – URA F.C
- 2013/2013 – Sports Club Victoria University
- 2013/2014 – URA F.C
- 2014/15 – SC Villa
- 2015/16 – Vipers Sports Club
- 2016/17 – KCCA