Mayiga urges sponsors to back Masaza Cup

The Masaza (county) Cup tournament, since its restoration in 2004, has realized the Buganda Kingdom’s objectives, according to Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga.

Mayiga made the observation at Bulange, (the Buganda Kingdom seat) on Tuesday while launching the 2016 tournament due to kick off on Saturday at Lyantonde. Kabula will host last year’s losing finalists and neighbours, Buddu, in a match that will also be graced by the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.

The Katikkiro cited mapping Buganda’s borders as the first objective, forging unity among Kabaka’s subjects the second and, finally, talent identification.

“You have been told here that over 150 players from the tournament have joined the top league here and some have gone on to play for the national team, The Cranes. Can you imagine someone from one of the remote areas in Buganda, identified by the Masaza Cup tournament and goes on to play for the Cranes?  That persons fame in many cases rises even above us (the VIPs),” the Katikkiro noted.

He singled out Medi Kagere who featured for Buddu County and ended up playing for the Rwanda national soccer team, the Amavubi Stars.

Mayiga called on sponsors to invest in the Masaza Cup because they will get value for money.

Katikkiro Mayiga hands over the tournament balls to Vincent Mayiga. Photo by Dickson Mayiga

Masaza football chairman Ssejjengo and his team address the gathering at the launch. Photo by Dickson Kulumba

“Clearly, there is no single soccer tournament watched by bigger crowds that the Masaza Cup and any sponsor would reap big,” Mayiga advised. He also launched the Luwangula Cup and the Coronation Cup.

The kingdom minister in charge of sports Henry Sekabembe reiterated the Buganda’s commitment to bring back all sports into the limelight, but also looking at the commercial aspect “because sport is now an industry.”

Haji Sulaiman Ssejjengo, the chairman of the organizing committee, explained that this year the Luwangula Cup (competed for by the counties that reached the quarterfinals last year) and the 2016 Masaza Cup tournaments will run concurrently.

The Coronation Cup, played on the Kabaka’s coronation anniversary, will be contested by the county hosting the festivities and the defending champions. This year, Butambala (hosts) will tussle it out with Ssingo the defending champions.

The function was attended by Buganda county chiefs, team managers and representatives of the 70 referees that are going to officiate the tournament.