In a thrilling clash that resonated with the passion of Busoga’s football aficionados, reigning champions Bukooli Namayingo emerged victorious with a confident 2-0 win over Bunhole Bunanumba in the opening fixture of the MTN Busoga Masaza Cup. The showdown unfolded at the Bwondha primary school playground on a day pulsating with excitement along the Mayuge-Bwondha highway.
The fixture marked the kickoff of a highly anticipated tournament, supported generously by MTN Uganda, who have contributed a significant portion of the sponsorship package, injecting life into this colorful sporting spectacle.
The reigning champions, Bukooli Namayingo, seized control of Group C with a compelling victory over their local rivals. Iduma Odenga stole the spotlight with a breathtaking 30-yard screamer that found the net after 22 minutes, unleashing euphoria among the supporters who had flocked to witness the action. The drama reached its crescendo in the 91st minute, as Levis Barasa Muwango calmly slotted home a tap-in to secure the 2-0 triumph.
Reflecting on the victory, George William Wamala, the head coach of Bukooli-Namayingo, applauded his players for executing the game plan of securing an early advantage. “We had a game strategy of scoring earlier to boost our confidence in the game, and that really paid off until we got the caution goal. But in our training session, we must work on our possessive approach as Bunanumba really dominated us in the second half,” Wamala commented.
The atmosphere surrounding the event was electrifying, with legions of passionate football enthusiasts converging from every corner of Busoga’s chiefdoms. MTN Uganda’s Manager for Sponsorships and Events, John Paul Okwi, expressed his elation at the remarkable turnout, noting, “Today we had a much bigger audience than last year’s on the opening day. This indeed shows how excited our people from Busoga are through sports such as football. As MTN, we shall continue to support such events that draw such large audiences.”
Wei Biao, Manager of Haojue Motorcycle Company, echoed the sentiment, thrilled to witness the fervent response of the crowd. The Deputy Prime Minister of Busoga Kingdom, Osman Noor, extended gratitude to the sponsors for their role in stirring up enthusiasm through sports. “This large turn up indeed shows how excited people are when big companies like MTN Uganda and Haojue Motorcycle inject money to support sports development,” Noor affirmed.
