Tomusange: First Ugandan referee at the World Cup
AS a child, he dreamt of being a football star. Although this did not come to pass, the performance of the 45-year-old as assistant referee left a mark in world football. By 1982, Ali Tomusange had established himself as the finest goalkeeper at King’s College Budo.
By Samuel Lutwama
AS a child, he dreamt of being a football star. Although this did not come to pass, the performance of the 45-year-old as assistant referee left a mark in world football.
By 1982, Ali Tomusange had established himself as the finest goalkeeper at King’s College Budo.
In the same year, during the inter-house competitions, Tomusange’s dreams were shattered when he sustained a knee injury that rendered him incapable of pursuing his dream. Instead, he ventured into refereeing.
In 1993, Tomusange got a badge from FIFA, the international football association.
In the years that followed, he was chosen to handle the Egyptian derby between clubs, Al Ahly and Zamalek. Success became his lifestyle. In 2000, he officiated at the FIFA club World Championship in Brazil, where he handled four games. In the same year, he also featured at the Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where he officiated five games.
He was also chosen to handle five games in the Nations Cup hosted in Mali in 2002.
By now, he was on a roll and achieved a new milestone when FIFA selected him as one of the few African match officials for the 2002 FIFA World Cup held in Japan and South Korea. Tomusange’s appearance made him the first Ugandan to officiate in the FIFA World Cup.
In the World Cup, Tomusange was involved in four games. However, at the event, Tomusange controversially disallowed a goal by the Spanish team against South Korea. At the end of the game, he had to be escorted off the pitch by the security.
He also officiated six games (including the final) in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations.
Before this, Tomusange says in 1982, Keith Bukenya was the first Ugandan to be selected to officiate at the FIFA World Cup in Spain, but he died a few months to the opening ceremony.
AS a child, he dreamt of being a football star. Although this did not come to pass, the performance of the 45-year-old as assistant referee left a mark in world football.
By 1982, Ali Tomusange had established himself as the finest goalkeeper at King’s College Budo.
In the same year, during the inter-house competitions, Tomusange’s dreams were shattered when he sustained a knee injury that rendered him incapable of pursuing his dream. Instead, he ventured into refereeing.
In 1993, Tomusange got a badge from FIFA, the international football association.
In the years that followed, he was chosen to handle the Egyptian derby between clubs, Al Ahly and Zamalek. Success became his lifestyle. In 2000, he officiated at the FIFA club World Championship in Brazil, where he handled four games. In the same year, he also featured at the Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where he officiated five games.
He was also chosen to handle five games in the Nations Cup hosted in Mali in 2002.
By now, he was on a roll and achieved a new milestone when FIFA selected him as one of the few African match officials for the 2002 FIFA World Cup held in Japan and South Korea. Tomusange’s appearance made him the first Ugandan to officiate in the FIFA World Cup.
In the World Cup, Tomusange was involved in four games. However, at the event, Tomusange controversially disallowed a goal by the Spanish team against South Korea. At the end of the game, he had to be escorted off the pitch by the security.
He also officiated six games (including the final) in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations.
Before this, Tomusange says in 1982, Keith Bukenya was the first Ugandan to be selected to officiate at the FIFA World Cup in Spain, but he died a few months to the opening ceremony.