FUFA happy with performance of U -17 team

By Swalley Kenyi

Africa U-17 Championship
3rd round, return leg
Uganda 1 Zambia 2
(Zambia qualifies 4-1 on
aggregate)

FUFA president Moses Magogo and coach Matia Lule insist that there is no need of being disappointed with the U-17 team’s failure to qualify for the Africa U-17 Championships due in Niger next year.

The Uganda Cubs fell to Zambia 4-1 on aggregate after the 2-1 defeat in the return leg at Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

“I’m not disappointed with the boys at all because this is a long term project that we have embarked on. I’m happy the boys have showed what they can do on the pitch. That means Uganda has a bright future,” a jovial Lule told journalist as a jubilant Zambia team lifted their coach Chris Kaunda shoulder high in celebration.

Magogo, who met the team in the dressing room after the match, congratulated the players for achieving a third round qualifi cation in the qualifi ers.

“This is a long term plan. Qualifi cation for the championship would have just been a bonus for us,” Magogo said.

“The boys played six matches (against Seychelles, Rwanda and Zambia during the campaign) and I’m sure they are better than before.”

Zambia’s captain Patson Daka notched a goal in each half of the return leg while Alex Komakech scored Uganda’s goal from a penalty. Zambia’s tactician said that they won because Uganda failed to take their scoring chances in both legs. “Lule is a good tactician.

I respect him for that but it is about taking your chances in front of goal. Uganda created chances but we won because we took our chances. But these are young boys and that means the senior team has a future,” Kaunda noted.

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