5TH FUFA – AIRTEL RISING STARS (U-17) BOYS & GIRLS:
Boys U-17:
Finals: Kitara Region 0 (4) – 0 (3) Kampala Region
Semi-finals:
Kitara Region 0 (6) – 0 (5) Northern region
Kampala Region 1 – 0 Buganda Region
Girls U-17:
Finals: Buganda Region 4 – 1 Eastern Region
Semi-finals:
Eastern Region 0 (4) – 0 (2) Western region
Northern Region 0 – 4 Buganda Region
The FUFA – Airtel Rising Stars U-17 boys and girls football tournament concluded on Saturday, 31st October 2015.
The finals were held by the Western region at Kakyeeka stadium.
Kitara region for the second time running won the national Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) boys’ finals.
Buganda too won the girls’ version, in similar fashion as Kitara as the two sides successfully did in the 2014 finals played in Fort Portal.
In the boy’s finals, Kitara region won 4-3 on penalties after normal time had ended 0-0.
Buganda on the other hand had a softer route, overcoming a resilient Eastern region outfit 4-1.
Resty Nanziri scored a brace before Betty Nagekke and Elizabeth Nakigozi had one goal apiece.
There were sixteen teams overall with each region bringing a boy’s and girl’s side.
They were at first engaged in group stage games to give a chance to either teams to face one another.
The top four regions progressed to the semi final stage and finally the final stage to determine the winner.
Awards:
Each of the winning team members was awarded with gold medals, each team bagged Ug.shs 5M, Airtel branded jersey for the two finalists per gender and balls.
Each of the second placed teams earned Ug.shs 3M with silver medals, Airtel branded jersey and balls.
Individual winners:
The excelling individual players (Top Scorer, Goal keeper and Most Valuable players) each earned the latest new on the market Airtel I-Phone, branded shirt and track suit with a cap.
A team of potential players were selected by the national U-17 head coaches, Peter Onen and Hadijah ‘Lady Mourihoh’ Namuyanja.
The selected teams will be trained to represent the country at the up-coming youth championships.
FUFA officials led by Vice Presidents -Justus Mugisha and Darious Mugoye, Technical Director (Asuman Lubowa), Executive committee member and chairman national organizing committee, ARS, Dr. Benard Patrick Ogwel, woman executive committee member, Agnes Mugenyi, FUFA women football officier Hadijah Namuyanja attended the ceremony.
They were joined by Airtel Uganda officials led by the marketing manager, Praason Lal and the brand, assest and properties manager, Noela Byuma.
This was the fifth year running when Airtel Uganda were organizing the youth tournament meant to identify and nurture fresh football talents.
Examples of Successful Rising Stars:
Faruku Miya, Kezironi Kizito (Vipers Sports Club) and Sports Club Villa’s Martin Kizza are vivid examples of the ARS products who shone and have now tasted national team football.
Individual Award Winners:
Girls:
MVP – Resty Nanziri (Buganda Region)
Top Scorer – Fahima Betti Mustapha (Eastern Region) – 4 Goals
Best Goal Keeper – Hadijah Nalongo (Eastern Region)
Boys:
MVP – Sadat Nsubuga (Western Region)
Best Goal keeper – Alfred Adeka (Northern Region)
Top Scorer: Richardson Okumu (Kitara Region) – 5 Goals
Group Stage Matches:
Boys:
Kampala 3-1 West Nile
West Nile 2-3 North East
West Nile 0-2 Kitara
Kitara 2-0 North East
Buganda 0-1 North
East 1-2 Buganda
Kampala 3-1 West Nile
North East 0-3 Kampala
Girls:
West Nile 2-1 North East
West 1-0 North
East 3-0 Kitara
Kampala 1-0 Buganda
North 0-0 West
North East 0-3 West
Buganda 2-0 East
Buganda 3-0 Kitara
Kitara 0-2 Kampala
MAIN PHOTO: Buganda girls on the podium after receiving their trophy, gold medals and dummy cheque of Ug.shs 5M.
PHOTO CREDITS: Airtel Uganda
