Following a competitive display of talent and grit, four teams from Kitara and Western regions have advanced to the final stages of the Airtel Rising Stars 2018 tournament.
Kiryandongo Junior team beat the nine-man Friends of Soccer team 1-0 to win the Kitara Region Boys’ championship while Kigezi FC emerged Western Region winners. In the girls’ category, Sheema Girls and Tooro Queens took home the accolades for Kitara and Western Regions, respectively.
In addition to receiving cash prizes worth UGX 1,000,000/-, each of the winning teams also received trophies, certificates, balls and branded football uniforms.
Addressing the spectators and players at the games, Honorable Jafari Basajjabalaba; the Bushenyi District Chairperson commended Airtel Uganda for their dedication to the growth of all-round football across different platforms and categories.
He noted that this approach to talent acquisition and development ensured consistency and stable progress both for players and the field of football.
“As the sponsor of the National football team, several local football tournaments and this grassroots program, Airtel Uganda has championed and accelerated the progression of this particular sport. I applaud their devotion which has spanned several years and ultimately made great personal and national contributions.”
Airtel Uganda’s Regional Business Manager; Joseph Mukasa echoed the company’s commitment to cultivating football talent, starting from the grassroots, an approach he said has led to a systematic and remarkable growth over the years.
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 final games will be held in Fort Portal district on the 26th of August, where the best teams from several regions will tassel it out for the title of National Champion.