Final: Gomba Vs Buddu (3pm)
Third play-off: Busiro Vs Bulemeezi (12pm)
Date: Saturday. 6th. March. 2021.
Venue: St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
The Masaza Cup is an annual Buganda Kingdom tournament that has been played since 2004 and usually features various teams from different Buganda Kingdom counties.
The tournament defied the odds and the headaches of working around Covid-19 and the stringent health protocols to become only the third competition to be played in Uganda since March 2020.
The others are the Star Times Uganda Premier League and the FUFA play-offs which have majorly benefitted from direct funding from world body, FUFA.
Held at Njeru Technical Centre in Buikwe District kicked off on December 12, 2020.
All the matches televised live, spectators who were barred from the accessing stadium had to watch the games on TV.
With strict Covid-19 protocols over social distancing and mass events, there were doubts whether the 16th edition of the Buganda Kingdom premier football event would be held. However, when officials of the football federation (FUFA) and Buganda Kingdom met with sponsors, an assurance to make the tournament possible was received under strict measures.
The same background prompted Masaza Cup organizers to expel Bulemeezi head coach Simon Peter Mugerwa and Ssingo Chairman Uthman Wasswa mid-way the tournament from Njeru camp for flouting Covid-19 regulations, it opened a can of worms.
Bulemeezi are the reigning champion, having won the edition in 2019 after a hard fought 1-0 win against Busiro (in extra time) with South Sudan’s U-20 international Emmanuel Loki scoring the all-important goal.
National team players and those who play in the top tier (Uganda Premier League) as well as the second division (FUFA Big League) are not allowed by the regulations set to feature.
Determined to bring football back, all 18 teams had to abide by strict Covid-19 norms.
“This is an important tournament to the kingdom and we are keen to make it as enjoyable as possible,” said FUFA deputy chief executive Decolas Kiiza during a gathering at the kingdom headquarters in Mengo.
The competition was supposed to start in July but because of the lockdown due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, it was postponed.
During this season’s delayed Masaza Cup, teams had to face off once unlike in the past where home and away fixtures determined winners.
Defending champions Bulemeezi played the opening game against Butambala on December 12 with His Majesty the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi gracing the occasion. Teams would thereafter move to Njeru Technical Centre for the duration of the tournament in their various groups.
The first group was Butikiro, which had Bulemeezi, Ssingo, Buluuli, Mawogola, and Butambala.
The second group of Masengere: had Kyadondo, Bugerere, Kooki, Mawokota and Busujju.
The third group of Bulange had Busiro, Buvuma, Kyaggwe, and Buwekula.
And the last group of Muganzirwaza comprised of Buddu, Ssese, Gomba and Kabula County.
2019 champions Bulemeezi kicked off their title defense with a 1-all draw against Butambala.
Bulemeezi came from a goal down to secure a point after conceding in the first half Courtesy of a Nsereko Sharif strike in the 23rd minute of the game.
Butambala were the better organized side and dominated while defending as a team in the first half and managing to limit Bulemeezi to just a handful of chances on goal.
Busiro Ssaza football team rallied from a goal behind to overcome a resilient Busujju 2-1 on match day two of the Bulange group at the FUFA Technical Center, Njeru.
Hamza Kalinwamu cancelled out Shafik Kakande’s opener before Usama Arafat got the winner.
Two second half goals by Brian Omirambe and one from Ivan Irinimbabazi were enough for Busujju to defeat Buvuma 3-1 in the 2020 Masaza Cup Bulange group.
Going into match day 5 on Saturday, 19th December, all the five teams of Butikiro group had mathematical chances of progressing to the knock out stage.
Whereas Buluuli (2 points) and Ssingo (1 point) had slim chances of making it to the quarterfinals, the big opportunities awaited the defending champions Bulemeezi, Mawogola and Butambala, The trio of Bulemeezi, Mawogola and Butambala all had 4 points from two games apiece but Realistically, three teams of defending champions Bulemeezi, Mawogola and Butambala still had mathematical chances of progressing to the quarter finals.
Mawogola and Bulemeezi (on 7 points apiece) only required a draw for both teams to qualify.
The group would later wind down officially on Monday, December 21, 2020, with a double-header at the FUFA Technical Center, Njeru.
At this moment, 18 goals had been scored in as many as 8 matches in Butikiro group.
Away from that, Malida Kuteesa scored the only goal as Busiro beat Mawogola in the first quarterfinal.
Bulemeezi eased past Busujju with a 3-1 win in the second quarter final.
Buddu beat Mawokota 2-0 in the last quarterfinal game of the 2020 Masaza Cup at FUFA Technical Centre Njeru.
Gomba played Busiro in the semifinal while Buddu had now booked a date with holders Bulemeezi as three-time winners Mawokota were sent packing.
Buddu beat Bulemeezi to book their spot in the final of the Masaza cup. Bulemeezi tried to stage a comeback but couldn’t squeeze an effort past Buddu goalkeeper Yawe Farouk Ssebanja.
They felt unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty when Buddu defender appeared to have blocked John Ben Nakibinge shot with his hand.
“Buddu has come for the trophy. We had excellent preparations right from the time we have been training at Masaka Recreational Stadium with a number of friendly matches before we got closer to Njeru in the closing days,” said Michael Lukyamuzi aka skills, Buddu Head Coach before the game.
Some of Buddu’s star players included striker Frank Ssebuffu, Titus Ssematimba and goalkeeper, Skipper Farouk Yawe Ssebanja.
On the other hand Gomba beat Busiro in penalty shootouts to reach the final of the Masaza Cup and all their eyes for the 2020 Masaza Cup victory will be on talented talisman Charles Bbale the tournament top scorer.
Buddu, the 2016 champions will be targeting their second trophy against four-time winners Gomba in the final that was initially scheduled to be played on January 23rd. but later postponed by the Masaza local organizing committee to 6th March 2021 at St Mary’s stadium kitende.
“The Kabaka is pleased to attend the final of the Masaza Cup 2020 between Gomba and Buddu at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende in Wakiso District on Saturday, 6th, March, 2021 at 3 PM,” confirmed Buganda Kingdom Sports, Leisure and Recreation minister Owek. Henry Ssekabembe Kiberu at a presser on Tuesday, 9th, February, 2021 at Bulange, Mengo.
“We are still in negotiations with FUFA and the Ministry of Health on the number of fans that will be allowed inside the St Mary’s Stadium and how they will be controlled. In the near future, we shall let the public know. Even if it is not successful, we shall urge the fans to remain home and watch the game live on television like it was at Njeru,” Owek. Ssekabembe added.
The other interesting development is that the organizing committee of the Masaza Cup competition has reinstated the third place play-off match that will be played between Busiro and the 2019 champions Bulemeezi.
According to Samuel Mpiima, the first vice chairman of the Masaza Cup organizing committee, the third place play-off match will be played contrary to the earlier arrangement where it had been scrapped off.
“On the same day, we shall have the third place play off between Busiro and Bulemeezi starting at 12 PM,” Owek. Ssekabembe confirmed the committee’s decision.
The tournament has been played since 2004 and does not permit first and second topflight players to take part.
The Masaza Cup tournament is has a number of sponsors; leading the line are telecom giants Airtel Uganda as platinum sponsors.
Others include; Centenary Bank, Kande Poultry Farm, UNAIDS, Ministry of Health under the Central Public Health Laboratory, Nabagereka Development Foundation and Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA).
Facts:
* Gomba are the record champions of the tournament with 4 titles to their name, followed by Mawokota.
*Mawogola, Busiro, Buvuma,Ssese,Busujju and Buwekula have never won this tournament.
* No team has ever defended the Masaza cup title.
*Undisputedly, Gomba is by far the most successful team in the Masaza Cup football competition having made the grade to play in the finals for the 9th time.
* Players who have played in the FUFA Big League, Uganda Premier League and national teams (U-20, U-23 and Uganda Cranes) are not allowed to play in Masaza cup.
*The tournament had a banker by profession in John Vianney Bukenya playing for Buluuli.
* The trademark of Masaza Cup football has always been the massive fans that turn up for games. Actually, the final at the 42,000-seat-er Mandela National Stadium Namboole, has been a sell-out for the past three years, however this season games have been played behind closed doors at the FUFA Technical Centre-Njeru under strict observance of the Covid-19 guidelines.
*Due to lack of fans in the stands Most of the teams resorted to politicians to raise funds something that worked since it was campaign period.
* Both teams in the finals came from the same group.
* Both sides finished with 7 points but Gomba topped proceedings after scoring more goals.
* With a budget of more than Shs1.5bn, there was more than enough to have all players and officials tested for Covid-19. The organizers paid for the pricey Covid-19 tests, accommodation and feeding while individual teams were expected to take care of players’ facilitation.
* Mawokota fielded 15-year-old Elvis Sekajugo, he is the tournament’s youngest player ever.
*Busujju also had the duo of U-17 national team players; Ivan Irinimbabazi and Isa Bugembe.
* Gomba fielded 17-year-old Collin Seruwu, while Bulemeezi, too, had national U17 star Travis Mutyaba.
Prizes:
Winner-12m + Trophy
Runners up - 9m
Third place - 7m
4th place -5m
Top scorers:
Baale Charles Gomba 7 goals
Ogweti Gerald Busiro 4 goals
Masaza Cup Winners in the past.
- 2019 – Bulemeezi
- 2018 – Singo
- 2017 – Gomba
- 2016 – Buddu
- 2015 – Singo
- 2014 – Gomba
- 2013 – Mawokota
- 2012 – Bulemeezi
- 2011 – Buluri
- 2010 – Not Held
- 2009 – Gomba
- 2008 – Kyadondo
- 2007 – Mawokota
- 2006 – Kooki
- 2005 – Mawokota
- 2004 – Gomba
