Cranes players bag sh1.5m each
Jan 14, 2009
UGANDA Cranes’ CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup victory did not only earn each player sh1.5m but also an anticipated State Dinner. Brian Umony’s first half strike ensured that Uganda beat Kenya to lift the regional trophy for a record 10th time on Tuesday.
By Norman Katende
and Swalley Kenyi
UGANDA Cranes’ CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup victory did not only earn each player sh1.5m but also an anticipated State Dinner.
Brian Umony’s first half strike ensured that Uganda beat Kenya to lift the regional trophy for a record 10th time on Tuesday.
“We were at first thinking of a victory party but this is a national victory. It will have more value if State House organised it and that is why we have written to them,†said Sports State minister Charles Bakkabulindi.
“ I am sure President Yoweri Museveni will host the team,†an excited Bakkabulindi added yesterday.
Earlier, FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa announced that the team had shared $23,000 (sh45m) of the $30,000 (sh58.5m) winner’s prize money.
“We paid them all their allowances and the sh45m was a bonus to the team to thank them for the job well done,†said Mulindwa.
“We have many problems but we made sure the team is motivated .â€
Coach Robert ‘Bobby' Williamson said his team’s victory exceeded his expectations.
Williamson told the weekly PostBank-FUFA press gathering at FUFA house in Mengo that, “Winning the cup is fantastic. It exceeded all my expectations.
“They worked as a unit,†Williamson said about the team that gave him his first silverware as national coach. “The money never motivated them because they only knew about it after the final.â€
He said the new crop of players played with passion and focus and will serve as a foundation for the national senior team that will take part in other tournaments. He however asked the soccer fraternity not to disregard the professionals.
“We need the experience to go along with the future team. The professionals will help in assembling the team.â€
Mulindwa also hailed the players, saying that they were criticised at the beginning but remained focused.
“It’s good that we lifted the trophy but that will not make us lose our focus on building a new team. The new team has a fighting spirit,†said Mulindwa.
He promised the team training camps in Germany and friendly matches with World-Cup bound teams to keep them focused and also build their competitiveness.
and Swalley Kenyi
UGANDA Cranes’ CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup victory did not only earn each player sh1.5m but also an anticipated State Dinner.
Brian Umony’s first half strike ensured that Uganda beat Kenya to lift the regional trophy for a record 10th time on Tuesday.
“We were at first thinking of a victory party but this is a national victory. It will have more value if State House organised it and that is why we have written to them,†said Sports State minister Charles Bakkabulindi.
“ I am sure President Yoweri Museveni will host the team,†an excited Bakkabulindi added yesterday.
Earlier, FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa announced that the team had shared $23,000 (sh45m) of the $30,000 (sh58.5m) winner’s prize money.
“We paid them all their allowances and the sh45m was a bonus to the team to thank them for the job well done,†said Mulindwa.
“We have many problems but we made sure the team is motivated .â€
Coach Robert ‘Bobby' Williamson said his team’s victory exceeded his expectations.
Williamson told the weekly PostBank-FUFA press gathering at FUFA house in Mengo that, “Winning the cup is fantastic. It exceeded all my expectations.
“They worked as a unit,†Williamson said about the team that gave him his first silverware as national coach. “The money never motivated them because they only knew about it after the final.â€
He said the new crop of players played with passion and focus and will serve as a foundation for the national senior team that will take part in other tournaments. He however asked the soccer fraternity not to disregard the professionals.
“We need the experience to go along with the future team. The professionals will help in assembling the team.â€
Mulindwa also hailed the players, saying that they were criticised at the beginning but remained focused.
“It’s good that we lifted the trophy but that will not make us lose our focus on building a new team. The new team has a fighting spirit,†said Mulindwa.
He promised the team training camps in Germany and friendly matches with World-Cup bound teams to keep them focused and also build their competitiveness.