Fufa Drum: Holders Buganda in tight spot
Leading. Acholi striker Tito Okello celebrates with skipper Denis Okot at Pece Stadium. Courtesy photo.
What you need to know:
- Paddy Muhumuza, Anwar Ntege, Noel Nasasira and Ronald Kikonyogo are expected to pull up their socks if Tooro is to stun the hosts with an enviable 12th player - the fans.
Vipers forward Tito Okello may be struggling for playing time and goals at club level but he paradoxically finds his feet in the Fufa Drum tourney.
His solitary strike for Acholi on Sunday was enough to bring reigning champions Buganda to their knees at Pece Stadium and was lively throughout the match.
Alex Isabirye’s Buganda must now win against Bukedi today and Tooro provinces to have their title retention bid alive. Abbey Kikomeko’s Bukedi, are to face a motivated side that humbled Tooro 2-1 in their opening match and with experienced players David Owori and Fredson Gwoto that can change the game tide in an instant.
As Bukedi and Buganda tussle it out at Pece Stadium this afternoon, Acholi will be on the sideline waiting to inflict more damage on Fred Muhumuza’s Tooro. Paddy Muhumuza, Anwar Ntege, Noel Nasasira and Ronald Kikonyogo are expected to pull up their socks if Tooro is to stun the hosts with an enviable 12th player - the fans.
New sponsors on board
First it was Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) with the Shs75m sponsorship of the Fufa Drum tourney and later NIC Holdings. Now it is Nile Breweries Limited, through their brand Eagle Poa that on Sunday joined the sponsorship bandwagon of the provincial based competition.
The Eagle Poa sponsorship is valued at Shs250m per year for a duration of three years bringing the grand total to Shs750m.
This takes the kit sponsorship, stadium branding, prize money, medals, trophies, media and other logistics.
“we are here because this is one event that has manifested to be associated with big numbers of supporters,” Isaac Okwir, the Sales and Marketing Manager of Nile Breweries in charge of Northern Region revealed at the launch at Pece Stadium.
The winners of the tourney aimed at celebrating Uganda’s ancestry will walk home with Shs30m on top of the trophy on December 10.
Second edition
Sunday results
Bukedi 2-1 Tooro
Acholi 1-0 Buganda
Today, Fixtures
Buganda Vs Bukedi – Pece Stadium, Gulu 2pm
Tooro V Acholi – Pece Stadium, Gulu 4pm
December 7: Semi-finals (Venue to be confirmed)
December 10: Finals (Venue to be confirmed)
Group A; Buganda, Acholi, Bukedi, Tooro
Group B; West Nile, Lango, Busoga Bugisu
