On Sunday, Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) officials and Ex- Uganda Cranes internationals paid a courtesy visit to the Luzira Upper prisons in Kampala.
Hours after arrival from Morocco on Sunday morning, the FUFA President, Eng. Moses Magogo led the strong delegation to Luzira.
He was accompanied by the 2nd FUFA Vice President Darius Mugoye, FUFA Marketing Director Esther Musoke, Communications director Ahmed Hussein, national teams’ Officer Patrick Ntege Kaweesa as they were also joined by a group of Ex-Uganda Cranes internationals under the Uganda Football Players Association (UFPA) one of the 33 members of FUFA.
The programme is part of the federation’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) cause.
Addressing the inmates, the FUFA President noted that the federation remains committed to the cause of spreading and taking the beautiful game to the communities, inmates inclusive.
The unique power of football has brought us this close.
I am humbled to be here for the first time as a visitor.
FUFA is committed to associating with every kind of communities for the development of the game
Eng Magogo observed with concern the immense talent (players, referees and administrators) that some of the inmates are endowed with.
There are quite a number of young and energetic talented players who can serve in different clubs after completing your sentences.
Donated Items:
FUFA donated an assortment of items to further help in the development of the game at the Luzira Upper Prisons.
These included a trophy that will be competed for every year by the different prison teams, footballs, refereeing equipment, 50 cartons of White Star Magic Soap from Bidco Uganda Limited and a computer to harness administrative work.
In return, the inmates also offered some of their beautiful artifacts to the visiting FUFA officials.
FUFA Cup of Hope Tournament:
In the same vein, there will be annual tournament named the ‘FUFA Cup of Hope’ with a glittering giant trophy to be competed for amongst all the participating teams within the Prisons service.
In his address, Andrew Nsamba, the Chairperson of the Upper Prison Sports Association (UPSA), he appreciated the historic visit by the FUFA delegation.
Since 1948 when Luzira was officially opened, we had never received any guest from FUFA. We are also humbled by this visit.
We plan to switch back to the naming of our own teams to have tags of the domestic clubs currently playing in the Azam Uganda Premier League.
Nsamba remarked that internal competitions among these clubs is a way of entertainment and psycho-social well being of inmates and enhancing staff inmate relationship.
He intimated some of their challenges ranging from limited resources like balls, jerseys, referees equipment, lapse in continuity of their various programmes to missing computer.
There was excitement as the inmates were engaged in a football match against the Uganda Cranes Ex-Internationals.
The game ended in a 2 all stalemate with Edward Kalungi and the ever exciting Hakim ‘Boda Boda’ Magumba scoring for the former Uganda Cranes players.
Other Ex-Internationals as goalkeeper Sadiq Wassa, Hassan Mubiru, Ayub Balyejusa, Ali Kitonsa, Paul Mutakabala, Simeon ‘Biri Etambuula’ Masaba also featured in well cheered match.
The FUFA President also graced the field of play in the latter stages of the game after coming on for Kitonsa, much to the applause of the mammoth crowd that lauded his inch-close ball control, ball protection technique and passing finesse throughout the 10 minutes he featured in.
FUFA has previously conducted CSR projects in Kisenyi with the Missionaries of the Poor NGO and Nakasongola Health Center IV.
Many similar programmes are planned for the benefit of the local communities.
MAIN PHOTO: Luzira Upper Prison inmates and the FUFA Delegation pose for a group photograph prior to the start of the friendly match played on Sunday, 12th March 2017
PHOTO CREDITS: FUFA Communications Department
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