Four teams braved a heavy downpour last weekend to sail through to the final stages of this year’s Airtel Rising Stars tournament. The games that took place from Friday to Sunday saw Kataka Girls FC and Mbale Tigers emerge as the Eastern champions while Echoes SS and Starlight SS took bagged the North-Eastern trophies.
Each of the winning teams received trophies, certificates, balls, branded uniforms and a cash prize of UGX 1,000,000 each.
Addressing the residents and players at the games, Airtel Uganda’s District Manager, Isaac Musingo said the games provide a platform to identify, nurture and recruit talented football players from the grassroots level.
He noted that the games also provide skills that are essential to both personal and professional development of players. “In addition to recognizing and awarding gifted players and teams, the Airtel Rising Stars tournament avails participants with other necessary competences including discipline, mental focus and team work- all of which are essential in the pursuit of a successful football career.”
The Guest of Honor at the games; Tororo Municipality Member of Parliament; Honorable Yeri Ofwono Apollo applauded Airtel Uganda for its consistency and dedication to the country-wide advancement of football. In his remarks, the Member of Parliament noted that the games were a platform for young players to showcase their skills and get drafted to play at national level.
The Airtel Rising Stars program started in 2001 with the aim of developing grassroots football by encouraging and nurturing the youths’ football skills and providing them with the opportunity to evolve and acquire new football techniques that will turn them into distinguished soccer talents.
The next regional qualifiers will take place in Gulu; with teams battling it out for the Northern and North Eastern championship.