Red Angels win title as Uganda gears up for first IBSA blind football tourney

Results
Mukono 2-2 Strong Spirits
Banda rhinos 0-1 Red Angels
Mukono 1-0 Buikwe 
Red Angels 1- 1 USIU (Kenya)
Buikwe 0 - 0 Strong Spirits 
USIU 0-0 Banda Rhinos

Semi finals
Red Angels 2-1 Strong Spirits 
Mukono (1)0 -0 (0)USIU (Kenya)

Final
Red Angels 2 - 0 Mukono

Makerere-based Red Angels were crowned champions of this year’s Blind Football Uganda Championship after defeating Mukono Ancila 2-0 in a thrilling final held on Sunday at the Makerere Rugby Grounds.

Striker Joseph Etoju was the standout performer, scoring both goals to seal the victory and earning the tournament’s top scorer title with six goals in just four matches.

This year’s championship featured six teams, including United States International University (USIU) from Kenya, who made an impressive debut in blind football. The Kenyan side finished third and claimed bronze medals, marking a promising start to their journey in the sport.

For the Red Angels, the win was a long-awaited breakthrough. Team captain Rashid Semakula expressed his joy after years of near misses.

“God has finally responded to our efforts. We’ve been losing semi-finalists for the last three editions, but we never lost hope. Indeed, hard work pays,” he said with a smile.

Blind Football Uganda founder Muzafaru Jjagwe commended the tournament’s growing competitiveness, attributing it to the steady rise of the sport.

“We’re seeing serious progress. The number of teams has increased, and the quality of football is improving. That’s why foreign teams are now interested in competing,” he noted.

However, Jjagwe also highlighted ongoing challenges, particularly the limited availability and high cost of specialized equipment.

“We have very few shops supplying disability sports gear, and where it’s available, it’s extremely expensive,” he added.

The championship also served as a scouting platform for new talent to join Uganda’s national squad ahead of the upcoming International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Blind Football Africa Division Two Championship. The continental tournament is scheduled to take place in Kampala from November 25 to 30.

IBSA inspectors from Morocco are expected in Uganda this week to assess proposed venues. The National Paralympic Committee has submitted Ham’s Stadium in Nakivubo and Philip Omondi Stadium in Lugogo for consideration.

If approved, it will be the first time Uganda hosts an IBSA-sanctioned blind football event since gaining affiliation with the international body in October 2023.