Gomba defeat Singo to fly away with Masaza Cup

KAMPALA.

By the time center referee Muzamiru Tulu added a one minute bonus to the ninety played in the normal play in a lowly attended 2017  Airtel and Centenary Bank C0- sponsored Masaza Cup final at Mandela National Stadium Namboole on Saturday, Gomba’s noisy fans were singing praises to God before they had received their victory. 

Those who watched from the VIP section were led by Golden Band singer Ronald Mayinja who could not hide his support for Gomba.

 And when the final whistle was blown, they all stood up in upbeat mood after realizing that they had won their fourth trophy after narrowly beating Singo 1-0 to become the record holders of the Masaza Cup since 2004.

Before, they were all square on three trophies with Mawokota, but that’s now a bygone. 

Led by the day’s skipper Edward Satro, Gomba conquered their win through Nicholas Kabonge’s strike from a close range in the 58th minute. This proved to be beyond the capacity of Singo’s goalkeeper Derrick Wele. 

Kabonge’s strike however, came in when his side had already failed to convert goal scoring opportunities as strikers; Joseph Janjali and Andrew Kigozi all failed to put the ball to the back of the net in the 21^st and 37^th minute. 

“I didn’t see it coming. I just dribbled the ball frontwards and later released a shot from a far,” said Gomba’s midfielder Kabonge over his stunning scorcher. 

And as the gatherings were cheering up the chief guest Kabaka Ronald Mutebi (II) who kicked off the game at exactly 3:06pm, something unusual in the world of football transpired. 

The ball was called off in a while in the 40^th minute of the first-half and all players of both teams got a mini break to breathe out and then took bottles of water outside the pitch. The game then resumed. 

Shafik Bisaso’s coached team Singo were denied a goal by goalkeeper Juma Kirabira in the 42^nd minute when he rose in the air and punched away midfielder Jude Ssemugabi’s effort. 

He continued with the same pace and denied Isaac Otto’s header after the substitution of striker Steven Mukwala who was replaced by central midfielder Brian Lubega. 

Bisaso also substituted striker Andrew Kigozi with Hamos Muwoge to keep the burden alive for his rivals but all didn’t shake Simon ‘Ddunga’ Ddungu’s side. 

Even when playmaker Brian Mugume came on for winger Yusuf Saaka, coach Ddungu’s back-four led by captain Edward Satro , Abdallar Ssentongo and Brian Oyuka and Ponsiano Ssegonja didn’t hesitate to keep their victory assignment alive. 

MASAZA CUP SATURDAY RESULTS

FINALS:

Gomba 1-0 Singo (Mandela National Stadium)

THIRD-PLACE PLAYOFF: Buddu 4-2 Busiro

HONORS

TOP SCORER: Joseph Janjali (9)

MVP: Frank Ssemakula (Busiro)

BEST GOAL KEEPER: Juma Kirabira

MOST DISCPLINED TEAM: Kooki

REWARDS

WINNERS: Gomba (Shs.10m)

FIRST-RUNNERS-UP: Singo (Shs.7m)

SECOND-RUNNERS-UP: Buddu (Shs.5m)

Official sponsors: Airtel UG and Centenary Bank

Masaza Cup past winners
2004 Gomba                   

2005 Mawokota               

2006 Kkooki                  

2007 Mawokota                

2008 Kyaddondo              

2009 Gomba       

2010   not organised

2011 Buruuli                

2012 Bulemezi                

2013 Mawokota               

2014 Gomba                  

2015 Singo                     

2016 Buddu                     

2017 Gomba