The year Rwanda humbled Cranes
YEAR-ENDER 2003 Uganda<br>FORGET the recent CECAFA victory over Rwanda and the medal haul by star athletes Boniface Kiprop and Dorcus Inzikuru
YEAR-ENDER 2003 Uganda
By Fred Kaweesi
FORGET the recent CECAFA victory over Rwanda and the medal haul by star athletes Boniface Kiprop and Dorcus Inzikuru. Not even a first ever place in the World Cup finals by the country’s young cricketers characterised 2003.
The year 2003 will best be remembered for the ugly scenes in June as Rwanda frustrated Uganda’s bid to make it to Tunisia 2004 in a key game at Mandela stadium , Namboole.
That incident, and the arrival of one Mike Ezra, who took sports sponsorship in the country to new levels, were the most talked about issues.
The low point first. Uganda versus Rwanda at Namboole turned into a farce, when the Ugandans felt the boys from Kigali were using supernatural powers.
Up came ‘witch-doctor’ Abubaker Tabula, who picked ‘juju’ from the Rwanda goal. Chaos broke up as the Rwandans fought for their ‘juju’.
The end result was Cranes lost their concentration, Amavubi won 1-0 to guarantee their first ever appearance at the Nations Cup.
“Witchcraft has cost Uganda a place in next year’s finals otherwise they have a good side that could have performed well in Tunisia,†remarked Kenyan legend Joe Kadenge ‘999’.
The league was marred by accusations by Express and Villa of match-fixing that climaxed with a 22-1 win for Villa against Akol. A probe into the game will hopefully define a way forward.
The junior soccer leagues however prospered, with the Kampala Kids League team lifting world titles— the U-11 Gothia and Tivoli Cups.
Victory in the watered-down CECAFA finals, and qualification for the 2006 Nations Cup and World Cup group stages in extra time against Mauritius were overshadowed.
Neither did the boxers shine, with Uganda failing to put a single boxer in the Abuja finals. They now look to ‘messiah’ Ezra to help fund their qualification to the 2004 Olympics.
Conversely, rugby and athletics took firm steps forward, although there was as much action on the track as off it, with sports sponsor Ezra (picture above) challenging the UAAF establishment.
Ezra emerged when New Vision appealed for sponsors for the junior cross country team to Switzerland.
Kiprop was the star in Lausanne, winning a silver medal in the individual race. Uganda went on to win team bronze as well.
Kiprop put up stunning performances in Europe, at the All Africa Games, won bronze and the Afro-Asian Games and two gold (5000m, 10,000m) at the Africa junior championships. He was matched for medals by sports-personality of 2002 Inzikuru, who won silver at the All Africa Games and bronze at the Afro-Asians.
The U-19 cricket team and the Rugby Cranes broke new ground, with the rugby team taming several regional giants and shining at the Sevens Series in Dubai and South Africa.
The year also saw the exit of long-serving National Council of Sports general secretary Abbey Lutaya and badminton’s Dr James Sekajugo. Fallen sports personalties were Gideon Karyooko, Byamugabe, players Davis Odowa (KCC) and Peter Agong (Akol FC) and Josephat Kibalama.
Golf and rallying got new champions in Charles Yokwe and Moses Lumala while Falcons are still MTN basketball men’s champions. Not changing was the story of FUFA led by Obua, who continued providing stories of incompetence and corruption.
By Fred Kaweesi
FORGET the recent CECAFA victory over Rwanda and the medal haul by star athletes Boniface Kiprop and Dorcus Inzikuru. Not even a first ever place in the World Cup finals by the country’s young cricketers characterised 2003.
The year 2003 will best be remembered for the ugly scenes in June as Rwanda frustrated Uganda’s bid to make it to Tunisia 2004 in a key game at Mandela stadium , Namboole.
That incident, and the arrival of one Mike Ezra, who took sports sponsorship in the country to new levels, were the most talked about issues.
The low point first. Uganda versus Rwanda at Namboole turned into a farce, when the Ugandans felt the boys from Kigali were using supernatural powers.
Up came ‘witch-doctor’ Abubaker Tabula, who picked ‘juju’ from the Rwanda goal. Chaos broke up as the Rwandans fought for their ‘juju’.
The end result was Cranes lost their concentration, Amavubi won 1-0 to guarantee their first ever appearance at the Nations Cup.
“Witchcraft has cost Uganda a place in next year’s finals otherwise they have a good side that could have performed well in Tunisia,†remarked Kenyan legend Joe Kadenge ‘999’.
The league was marred by accusations by Express and Villa of match-fixing that climaxed with a 22-1 win for Villa against Akol. A probe into the game will hopefully define a way forward.
The junior soccer leagues however prospered, with the Kampala Kids League team lifting world titles— the U-11 Gothia and Tivoli Cups.
Victory in the watered-down CECAFA finals, and qualification for the 2006 Nations Cup and World Cup group stages in extra time against Mauritius were overshadowed.
Neither did the boxers shine, with Uganda failing to put a single boxer in the Abuja finals. They now look to ‘messiah’ Ezra to help fund their qualification to the 2004 Olympics.
Conversely, rugby and athletics took firm steps forward, although there was as much action on the track as off it, with sports sponsor Ezra (picture above) challenging the UAAF establishment.
Ezra emerged when New Vision appealed for sponsors for the junior cross country team to Switzerland.
Kiprop was the star in Lausanne, winning a silver medal in the individual race. Uganda went on to win team bronze as well.
Kiprop put up stunning performances in Europe, at the All Africa Games, won bronze and the Afro-Asian Games and two gold (5000m, 10,000m) at the Africa junior championships. He was matched for medals by sports-personality of 2002 Inzikuru, who won silver at the All Africa Games and bronze at the Afro-Asians.
The U-19 cricket team and the Rugby Cranes broke new ground, with the rugby team taming several regional giants and shining at the Sevens Series in Dubai and South Africa.
The year also saw the exit of long-serving National Council of Sports general secretary Abbey Lutaya and badminton’s Dr James Sekajugo. Fallen sports personalties were Gideon Karyooko, Byamugabe, players Davis Odowa (KCC) and Peter Agong (Akol FC) and Josephat Kibalama.
Golf and rallying got new champions in Charles Yokwe and Moses Lumala while Falcons are still MTN basketball men’s champions. Not changing was the story of FUFA led by Obua, who continued providing stories of incompetence and corruption.