The Minister has on Tuesday morning, revealed that the opening game will be a Muganzirwa Group contest between defending champions Busiro and Mawokota and will take place on 24th June, at Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku.
“We are ready and set to have the opening game of the 19th edition between holders Busiro and Mawokota.” We call upon all the county chiefs, team leaders and fans to give support to their respective counties in any possible way.” Said Ssekabembe
Masaza Cup organizing committee chairman Hajji Sulaiman Ssejjengo revealed why Busiro will host the opening game at Wankulukuku not Kabaka Kyabaggu which is their home ground
“The challenge we are facing in this part of the country is lack of enough land and so we have failed to find any suitable venue in Busiro to host the opening.
We all know that a game of this magnitude attracts many important guests including his highness the Kabaka and so we reached an agreement with Busiro to have Muteesa II Stadium Wankulukuku as the hosting venue for the opener. Wankulukuku at least can accommodate such important people.” Said Ssejjengo
The opening shall pack a program running from 10am with the opening game kicking off at 3pm.
The only fixture on 24th June will mark kick off of the 2023 104 games package of the Masaza cup Football tournament 19th Edition.
After the opening game, the following weekend shall come up with 8 games that will involve Buvuma against Butambala as the only Saturday 1st July match and the other 7 fixtures will feature on 2nd July 2023.
The group stage games shall go on until 03rd September with quarterfinals taking action on 7th and 24th September over home and away legs while semi finals will follow on 1st and 8th October before finals taking place on 28th October 2023.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday 30th May during a press conference held at Bulenge Mengo, Minister Henry Ssekabembe Kiberu called upon all stakeholders to play their respective roles.
“I urge the Country Chiefs, Masaza team Management committees and the fans to rally behind their teams and give them the necessary support”
At the same platform Busiro new team Manager Mr. Ronald Ssekitoleko has confirmed Busiro Ssaza agreeing with Masaza cup organizing committee about the hosting of their opening game at a venue found in Kyadond county.
“We have sat, discussed with the tournament organizers and agree to host our opening fixture at Muteesa II Stadium Wankulukuku, it can affect us but for the goodness of the tournament we to reached that decision,” Sekitoleko told media.
it is also good for us because Wankulukuku is easy to access by many people as compared to Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium in Wakiso so we expect to get a bigger number of fans than what we would afford at Wakisha, we expecting fans from Kyandondo to join those of Busiro and Mawokota,”He added.
Busiro will be under the leadership of 2020 Masaza Cup winning coach Ibrahim Kirya while Mawokota are managed by Micheal Bukenya.
Kirya replaced Simon Peter Mugerwa who returned to Buddu.
Bukenya on the other hand took over helms at Mawokota from Richard Malinga who managed the three time winners for the last two seasons.
During the 18th edition final, Busiro beat two time winners Buddu 2-1 at Muteesa II Stadium.
As per the tournaments rules and regulations give the defending champions a chance to host the opening game.
Busiro this year will be hosting their games at Kabaka Kyabaggu Wakisha Resource Centre stadium in Wakiso but due the stadium standards resulted them hosting the opening game at Muteesa II Wankulukuku since the Kabaka Ronald Mutebi II is anticipated to grace the opening ceremony.
Former Winners:
2022: Busiro
2021: Buddu
2020: Gomba
2019: Bulemeezi
2018: Singo
2017: Gomba
2016: Buddu
2015: Singo
2014: Gomba
2013: Mawokota
2012: Bulemeezi
2011: Bululi
2010: Not Held
2009: Gomba
2008: Kyadondo
2007: Mawokota
2006: Kooki
2005: Mawokota
2004: Gomba
