The Council for East and Central African Football Association (CECAFA) opted to change host nation from Tanzania to Uganda for the 2000 Senior Challenge Cup. This forced Tanzania to withdraw from the tournament. Sudan and Zanzibar also failed to take part while Djibouti first withdrew because of financial reasons but latter re-joined. By virtue of being hosts, Uganda was represented by two teams as the culture was for the tournament then.
Following this decision, FUFA ensured that two teams Uganda Cranes (A) under Nigerian tactician Harrison
Okagbue and Uganda Lions (B) under Leo Adraa were set for the competitions.
Team A was placed in Group A that had the likes of Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Burundi. This group was based in Kampala and played all its games at Nakivubo Stadium.
Team B (mainly composed of U-23 players) was placed in Group B alongside Rwanda, Eritrea and Kenya and based in Mbale and played all games at Mbale Municipal stadium.
Uganda’s road to the finals:
Uganda Cranes (Team A) fixtures and results (GROUP A)
Uganda 2-2 Ethiopia – 18th/Nov/2000
The Cranes kicked off the campaign with a 2-2 draw against Ethiopia. Hassan Mubiru opened his account in the 3rd minute before Ethiopia’s Shitayehu Gatachew equalised and then Hussein Seman fired Ethiopia into the lead in the 73rd minute. George Ssemwogerere saved Uganda’s day by scoring an equaliser with three minutes left on the clock.
Uganda 2-1 Burundi – 20th/Nov/2000
Harrison Okagbue’s boys won their first game of the tournament by beating Burundi 2-1 in their second game. Mathias Kawesa gave Uganda a 53rd minute lead but Kubi Lewis brought the game level just after three minutes. Hussein Mbalangu netted Uganda’s winner in the 87th minute for the team’s maiden win of the campaign.
Uganda 6-0 Somalia – 23rd/Nov/2000
In their third group game, the Cranes ran rampant thumping Somalia 6-0. Andrew Fimbo Mukasa scored a brace while Hassan Mubiru, Fred Makokha, Ibrahim Buwembo and Edward Kalungi netted one a piece.
Uganda 7-0 Djibouti – 27th/Nov/2000
As if thumping Somalia was not enough, Djibouti was next in Uganda’s firing line. Seven un replied goals meant the Cranes topped group A with 10 points and a goal difference of 14 while Ethiopia finished second. Andrew Fimbo Mukasa bagged a hat trick, George Ssemwogerere, Hassan Mubiru, Fred Makokha, and Meddie Nsubuga all scored a goal each.
Uganda and Ethiopia qualified for the semi-finals from this group.
Uganda Lions (Team B) fixtures and results (GROUP B)
Uganda Lions 3-2 Rwanda – 19th/Nov/2000
Leo Adraa’s boys surprised Rwanda with a 3-2 win. Moses Bantu was the star man of the day scoring twice and creating the other.
Uganda Lions 1-0 Eritrea – 23rd/Nov/2000
Moses Bantu was again on the mark scoring Uganda’s only goal in the 75th minute.
Uganda Lions 2-0 Kenya – 26th/Nov/2000
Uganda’s team B finished the group with a perfect record beating Kenya 2-0 in their last group game while Rwanda was second. Kenya’s Sammy Omollo scored an own goal in the 18th minute and Ahmed Kiiza put the icing on the cake in the 3oth minute. Custodian Hannington Kalyesubula was to thank for the clean sheet after saving Eric Omondi’s penalty.
Uganda B and Rwanda qualified for the semi-finals from group B.
SEMI-FINALS STAGE
After both Ugandan sides topped their groups, they set up semi-final clashes with second placed teams.
Uganda Cranes A took on Rwanda while Uganda Lions played Ethiopia. Both games were played at Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium
Semi-final 1 Uganda 3-1 Rwanda – 29th/Nov/2000
The senior side made it to the finals after thumping the Amavubi 3-1 in the semi-finals. Hassan Mubiru netted in the 41st minute for his fourth of the campaign, Phillip Obwiny made it two nil in the 64th minute while substitute Mathias Kawesa completed the scoring in the 90th minute. Between the second and third goal, Abdul Sibomana had given Rwanda some hope.
Uganda Cranes line up: Sam Kawalya, Richard Malinga, Timothy Batabaire, George Ssemwogerere, Phillip Obwiny, David Kalungi (Jamil Kyambadde), Fred Makokha (Hussein Mbalangu), Meddie Nsubuga, Andrew Mukasa, Hassan Mubiru (Mathias Kawesa) and Ibrahim Buwembo.
Semi-final 2 Uganda Lions 1-0 Ethiopia – 30th/Nov/2000
Jimmy Kidega’s goal was all the Ugandan side needed to see off a stubborn Ethiopian side that had even held Uganda’s senior team in the group stages to set up an all Ugandan final.
Uganda Lions Line up: Hannington Kalyesubula, Godfrey Katerega, Nestroy Kizito, Patrick Musoke, Abed Bironse, Noah Babadi Kasule, George Otika (Vicky Okello), Jimmy Kidega (Eugene Ssepuya), Moses Bantu, Ahmed Kiiza, Henry Kalanzi (Moses Ndaula).
Finals Uganda Cranes 2-0 Uganda Lions – 3rd/Dec/2000
At this juncture, it was already confirmed Uganda was the champion of the region but the need to see which of its teams lifts the title made the finals even more mouth-watering.
In the end, Uganda cranes beat their juniors 2-0 but it didn’t come easy. They had to wait until the 76th minute to find the back of the net through Hassan Mubiru. The goal was his fifth of the campaign an implication that Uganda’s Figo scored in all but one match in the tournament. Then came the goal that sunk the Lions who enjoyed the support of most spectators from substitute Jamil Kyambadde. The dribbling maestro showcased his dribbling skills by rounding off the entire Lions’ defence before slotting home the team’s second in the 83rd minute past a helpless Hannington Kalyesubula in goal. The final whistle meant the B side lost but the jubilations from both sides was immense from players to the fans and the entire country.
Hassan Mubiru and Andrew Mukasa topped the goal scoring charts with five goals each though the difference was that Fimbo’s five goals came in just two games (a brace Vs. Somalia and a hat trick Vs. Djibouti) while Mubiru scored in each but one of the six games Uganda Cranes played with Moses Bantu also netting three in the tournament for Uganda Lions.
Just met the legend himself.
Fred makokha… He has the best jazz and listening to him is just refreshing.
Though scary enough for the soccer players representing us out there
the good old days