Obua to captain All Stars team against Barca legends

By Michael Nsubuga

Former Uganda Cranes legend David Obua will captain the Uganda All Stars team set to face the Barcelona legends in a charity match that will launch the RG Football Academy, at Namboole on December 12.

Obua will play alongside former and current Cranes stars like Tony Mawejje and Simeone Masaba, among others, on the team that will be coached by former Cranes tactician Mike Mutebi.

Stadiums for Africa CEO, Ambrose Tashobya made the pronouncement during a press conference at NBL commercial offices in Luzira, at which Nile Breweries Marketing Director Daniel Ogong unveiled a sponsorship package of $100,000 (sh340m) towards the match and the academy.

"This is a huge and historical project which we are committed to, we intend to spend another sh200m in promoting the game and we shall be doing several activations to this effect," Ogong said.

"We are doing this because we believe sport has the power to build national pride and build brands like ours but we also take pride in the promotion of different sports; and there is a noble cause for this match; which is building a high performance academy which is the main reason we came up and we would like to thank other partners who have also committed resources to ensure the legends visit is successful," Ogong stated.

He also launched a promotion which is going to run for the next six weeks, aimed at promoting the game. Nile Special consumers across the country upon buying three beers will be eligible to win match tickets for the match while two other lucky ones will step on the field to play alongside the legends.

Rayco Garcia the brain child behind the academy was grateful for the Nile sponsorship and all those who have made it possible for the match to happen.

"We would like to thank Ugandans for giving us this opportunity to have this match in the country, the Barcelona legends are taking this match very serious because we are using the Barcelona brand to change many things around the world," Rayco Garcia remarked.

"It is important that we work in the same direction and I hope every year we can make something like this to promote the work of the academy which is going to be the first in Africa. In the academy those with the talent we shall try to market them to Europe through the ambassadors that we shall have in the academy and the others who will not make it will at least be good people in other capacities," Garcia stated.

The legends arrive on December 8 and will visit some tourist sites ahead of the match, before flying out immediately thereafter. The match tickets will be sold at KFC outlets and Shell stations.

The match is sponsored by President Museveni, Uganda Tourism Board, Sheraton, Vision Group, KFC, KCCA, Coca Cola, Nile Breweries and several individuals who have contributed to bot the academy and the match.

Some of the legends expected include Carles Puyol, Patrick Kluivert, Luis Garcia and Edgar Davids among others.

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