FUFA Drum tournament 2019
Final
Acholi 0 (5)-0 (3) Bukedi
Acholi Province were on Tuesday crowned the champions of the 2019 FUFA Drum Tournament bankrolled by Eagle Poa. Acholi achieved the feat after beating Bukedi 5-3 in the final following a barren normal time stalemate at the new Akii Bua Stadium in Lira before hundreds of fans.
Tito Okello, Alfred Onek, Richardson Asaba, Moses Okot and skipper Oola all scored the kicks for Acholi. Disan Galiwango, Frank Kalanda and David “Colgate” Owori netted for Bukedi but Aaron Okoth was denied by Acholi goalkeeper Derrick Ochan.
Tito Okello was named the man of the match, taking home Shs100,000 and a plaque whilst is side Acholi took home Shs32m as prize money. Bukedi took Shs15m as runners up.
The tournament that intends to celebrate ancestry, rally patriotism, promote sports tourism and unearth raw new talents across the country, is played under the theme: “Celebrating our ancestry” and the 2019 edition was the second after the inaugural tournament last year won by Buganda province.
What a football year for Acholi community! Fresh from lifting the 2019 FUFA Drum after win over Bukedi in penalties in Lira last weekend, the Acholi fans were named the best fans of the year in the Airtel-FUFA Drum tournament 2019 on Saturday at the Speke resort, Munyonyo.
No doubt, they have always stood out and indeed the StarTimes Uganda premier league misses a team from the Acholi province. Acholi fans beat West Nile, Lango, Bunyoro, KCCA FC, Onduparaka FC, SC Villa and Tooro United FC fans that were also commendable.
With Uganda hosting two Cecafa competitions concurrently –the Cecafa senior challenge Cup in Kampala and the Cecafa U17 Girls championship in Njeru, it is safe to say that the FUFA Drum organization stood out among the three big tournaments.
The quarter finals of the FUFA Drum were played in Lira and Gulu in a new group format and the organization committee led by FUFA Head of marketing Rogers Byamukama, sowed high level of organization.
Away from the huge number of fans that turned up especially in the final, completion of AkiiBua stadium by the Lira local council and the football fraternity is the biggest achievement of the tournament. Aisha Nalule, a member of the FUFA Drum organizing committee said that the football administration in the Lira and Northern region at large worked together with local authorities to put up a perimeter fence and work on the playing surface ahead of the final.
The tournament also gave players a platform to prove their worth ahead of the 2019/20 StarTimes Uganda premier league season second round. Many players who stood out in the tournament are those who had less playing time at their respective clubs. The tournament was thus a platform for them to prove to their clubs or attract shooters in the January transfer window.
In the individual winners, Lango’s Bronson Nsubuga was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. Tito Okello of Acholi finished with 8 goals to take the top scorers’ accolade.
Bukedi’s goalkeeper Derrick Emukule was named best goalkeeper of the tournament that kicked off on 30th March 2019 while the best coach is Geoffrey Akena of champions Acholi Province. Ag. FUFA President Justus Mugisha was the chief guest in his last event in the capacity before handing over the FUFA seat back to Eng. Moses Magogo on Wednesday.
Magogo returned to office as the FUFA President following two-month suspension after his plea bargain with the FIFA independent ethic committee following an ‘illegal resale’ of 2014 FIFA tickets.
FUFA DRUM Best XI:
Derrick Emukule (G.K, Bukedi), Denis Okota Oola (Bukedi), Rashid Okocha (West Nile), Benjamin Nyakoojo (Tooro), Slyvester Okello (Acholi), Hudu Mulikyi (Acholi), Bronson Nsubuga (Lango), Fredson Gwot (Bukedi), Tito Okello (Acholi), Ibra Nsimbe (Bukedi) and Felix Okot (Acholi).
Coach: Geoffrey Akena
Acholi XI: Derrick Ochan (G), Denis Okot Oola, Silvester Okello, Walter Ochora, Ronald Owing Ogenga, Felix Okot, Moses Okot (55’ Alfred Onek), Fred Agandu (Richardson Asaba), Hudu Mulikyi (85’ Norman Ojik), Isaac Otto, Tito Okello
Subs Not Used: Emmanuel Rubangakene (G.K), Stephen Junior Akena, Francis Onekalit, Andrew Kidega, Derrick Ocen, James Otim
Team Officials:
Coach: Geofrey Akena
Assistant Coach: Walter Ocaga
Assistant Coach: Raymond Komakech
Team Manager: Ceaser Otto
Goalkeeping Coach: Moses “Ugoboss” Oloya
Team Doctor: Robert Onekalit
Bukedi XI: Derrick Emukule (G.K), Joseph Othieno, Yeseri Waibi, Benon Tahomera, Edward Kabona, Ibrahim Pengere, Paul Dumba, David Owori, Ibra Nsimbe (80’Frank Kalanda), Fredson Gwoto (85’ Stephen Okello), Iddi Babu (40’ Disan Galiwango)
Subs Not Used: Patrick Wafula (G.K), Cosia Waiswa, Isaac Kisujju, Andrew Kiwanuka
Head Coach: Abbey Bogere Kikomeko
Match Officials:
Center Referee: Rajab Bakasambe (Buganda Region)
Assistant Referee 1: Hakim Mulindwa (Kampala Region)
Assistant Referee 2: Emmanuel Okudra (West Nile)
Fourth Official: Deogratious Opio (Northern region)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Docus Athuhaire (Western Region)
Referee Assessor: Amin Bbosa Nkono (Eastern Region)
Match Commissioners: Rogers Byamukama and Hajjat Aisha Nalule
