By Our Reporter

Pilsner Lager, a beer produced by Uganda Breweries, has announced a UGX50 million sponsorship package towards the upcoming Bamasaaba Sports Tournament 2019. The tournament will start on August 15 th and run up to October.

Organised by the Bamasaaba Sisimukha Club (BASC), the games bring together various teams from Masaaba communities in both Uganda and Kenya with the aim of honouring culture, promoting unity and the development of the Bamasaaba people through sports and games.

This year’s sponsorship package was announced at a press briefing held at Uganda Breweries’ head offices in Luzira.

While announcing the sponsorship, Edgar Kihumuro, the Pilsner Lager Brand Manager, said, “We live in an era when it is crucial for us to hold our cultural and traditional values close to heart. Pilsner Lager, as a brand, understands and cares about the pride associated with a deep African heritage and this commitment has seen us invest in the development of local sports potential, for example, with the ongoing Pilsner Super 8 Tournament. By sponsoring the Bamasaaba Sports tournament, not only are we advancing a passion for sports but also for the traditions that bring people together.”

The tournament has, in the past, attracted various teams drawn from over 20 clans from the districts covering Mbale, Bududa, Sironko, Manafwa and Bulambuli in Uganda and the Bamasaaba Kenya Chapter which covers Trans Nzoia and Bungoma.

“The Bamasaaba Sports Tournament continues to be a wonderful opportunity for our people to come together in celebration of our culture and tradition. In addition, our youth are encouraged to stay in touch with their rich heritage through sports, which inspire, entertain and give them an opportunity to showcase their talent,” said Israel Koboi, Chairperson of the Bamasaaba Sisimukha Club.

The sports tournament places an emphasis on football and netball that will be played in a series of group knockout stages.

“This year, we plan to include new activities like bicycle riding, a marathon, bull riding and shortput and we are glad for the support of partners like Pilsner Lager for being part of this journey,” Koboi added.

By Our Reporter

Last weekend, Airtel Uganda hosted the best youth football teams from Kampala district at Sendi grounds in Wankulukuku for the Airtel Rising Stars Kampala Regional tournament – the first regional tournament of the 2019 competitions.

The 3-day tournament, which had 16 boys’ and 8 girls’ teams, saw Kawempe Muslim SS dominate on both fronts with their boys team defeating 2018 winner Kampala Junior Team (KJT) 5-4 in penalty shoot-outs following a goal-less draw after 90 minutes.

The Kawempe Muslim SS girls’ team also defeated Uganda Martyrs 2 -1 in an exciting and nerve-wracking match watched by Honorable Nabilah Nagayi, the Kampala Woman MP, FUFA leadership led by 2nd Vice President Darius Mugoya and Airtel Uganda Brand and Strategy Manager Ms. Noela Byuma.

Following their victory, both Kawempe Muslim boys and girls teams walked away with a trophy, gold medals each and 1.5 million shillings each. Runners up KJT (boys) and Uganda Martyrs (girls) also took hom a trophy, silver medals for the players and 1 million shillings. Uganda Martyrs’ Kevin
Nakachwa was named girls MVP while Jeremiah Jabel from St. Mary’s took home the boys MVP accolade.

Commenting about this tournament, Airtel’s Noela Byuma congratulated the winners and encouraged all the other teams to continue training for their comeback in the 2020 tournament.

“The talent that we have seen over the past three days has been a clear indicator for the need to continue investing in grassroots talent development. These youth are skilled, passionate and determined and these are the values that Airtel Rising Stars aims to develop as they go on to pursue professional careers in football,” she noted.

Since 2011, the Airtel Rising Stars grassroots football tournament has given talented boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 17 an opportunity to compete against fellow youth from across the country with hopes of being scouted to join the local league, football clubs all over the world and the Uganda national team. Today, the Uganda national men and women football teams both consist of a number of players who took part in this tournament.

Kampala Region has named thirty boys (30) and 30 girls who will prepare for the Airtel Rising Stars National finals due in early September.

By Our Reporter

On Friday, Uganda Cranes official sponsors Airtel Uganda officially welcomed the National Football team back from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt at a dinner held at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

In his remarks, Airtel’s Managing Director V.G Somasekhar noted that he was delighted with the performance exhibited by the players during the AFCON games in Egypt and pledged to continuously support the National team and Ugandan sports in general.

“We are here today to celebrate the bigger achievement we got from the African Cup of Nations. Special thanks to the players, coaches, and everyone who contributed to the team’s success in ensuring that we reached the round of 16, as Airtel Uganda, we are married to football in general and the Uganda Cranes. We promise to put Uganda on top of the football map,” he commented.

Speaking on behalf of the National team, team captain Dennis Onyango Masinde lauded Airtel, FUFA, National council of sports and his teammates for the collective efforts towards the team’s success.

“I thank Airtel Uganda for being the brand behind our success, FUFA, National Council of Sports and the government for the support towards the development of the National team. I thank my teammates for the togetherness from day one even when we were knocked out.

“I’m honored to be part of the team and we shall continue to move together with Airtel as we strive for bigger wins,” he noted.

FUFA was represented by Rogers Byamukama who thanked Airtel Uganda for its support towards the sport of football.

“Apart from the National team Uganda Cranes, Airtel Uganda injects millions of money in the Masaza Cup competition and Airtel Rising Stars tournament. It is prestigious to work with Airtel Uganda and as FUFA we are aiming to work harder for project 2026 and the next AFCON qualification,” he added.

The dinner was attended by various dignitaries who included Airtel Managing Director V.G Somasekhar who was the host, Airtel’s Head of Marketing and Communications Remmie Kisaakye, Hajji Zubair Galiwango, Rogers Byamukama (Head of Marketing and chairman licensing committee at FUFA), the Uganda Cranes players led by the captain Denis Onyango, Hassan Wasswa, Farouk Miya, Emmanuel Arnold Okwi, Tadeo Lwanga, Isaac Muleme and Allan Kateregga, coaches Matia Lule, Fred Kajoba, Musician Eddy Kenzo, FUFA Communications Manager Ahmed Hussein Marsha, FUFA Marketing Manager Esther Musoke, the press and individual guests were in attendance.