1st Copa Dar Es Salaam Tournament (Group Stage Results for Uganda:
- Uganda 5-9 Zanzibar
- Uganda 4-7 Malawi
- Tanzania 6-5 Uganda Sand Cranes
Third Place play off match:
- Tanzania 5-4 Uganda
Results not withstanding, Uganda Sand Cranes head coach Salim Jamal Muwonge believes the first ever Copa Dar es salaam beach soccer championship has provided a great experience for the players and administrators alike.
Uganda finished fourth after losing narrowly 5-4 to the host Tanzania at the Coco beach in Dar es salaam.
The two day’s tournament was played on Christmas and boxing day.
According to coach Muwonge, the tournament gave his players the true feel of international football after a months of activity, apart from the league.
‘This was our first engagement in the year and I’m happy that we have learnt from the tournament. We now know our strong and weak points and will work on them before the CECAFA Beach Soccer tournament which also will serve as the AFCON qualifier. We have learnt great lessons from this invitational tournament. First of all, we thank our brothers from Tanzania for inviting us. At the time being, performance on the sand will matter most than the results registered. This is a great preparatory tournament for us ahead of CECAFA 2018 which will also act as an AFCON qualifier‘ Muwonge said.
Players as Ronald Mungwari and Paul Lule, who were first timers on the team stood out with outstanding individual and team displays with odd goals during the respective fixtures.
The team managed one win in the group stages, 7-6 against Tanzania and two losses to Malawi and Zanzibar.
They also lost out 5-4 in the third place play off match.
This was the first time that the Copa Dar es salaam was being organized and it will be an annual event.
Meanwhile, Ronald Magwali of Uganda emerged the top scorer of the tournament with 8 goals.
Focus now switches to the CECAFA 2018 beach soccer championship that will be hosted in Entebbe, Uganda.
Uganda’s Delegation:
Players:
Goalkeepers: Meddie Kibirge (Isabeti), Nasser Lwamunda (Buganda Royal)
Outfield players: Paul Lule (Buganda Royal), Allan Katwe (YMCA), Davis Kasujja (YMCA), Emmanuel Kalyowa (St Lawrence University), Ronald Mungwari (Stormers), Roch Somoka (Isabeti), Ambrose Naturinda (YMCA), Rica Byaruhanga (Isabeti)
Officials:
- Head coach: Salim Jamal Muwonge
- UBSA Technical Director: Bashir Mutyaba
- Team Manager: Tonny Ssebagala
- Physiotherapist: Jonah James Kukiriza
- Competitions Manager: Phoebe Kutamba
- Media Officer: Hamzah Kawuma Nsereko
- FUFA Delegate: Anthony Tumwesigye
- Head of Delegation: Deo Mutabazi
