Toro launches Masaza football tournament
Sep 05, 2017
King Oyo of Toro launched the Masaza football tournament in Ntoroko district on Monday.
PIC:
The Omukama of Toro Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, as is the norm, on Monday launched the Toro kingdom annual Masaza football tournament at Karugutu playground in Ntoroko district.
Fort Portal Municipality FC and Karugutu FC opened their quest for the title with Karugutu losing to Fort Portal 1-0 at their home ground in Karugutu town council Ntoroko.
Defending champions, Kamwenge will get their title defence underway a week later with a game against Kyegegwa.
This year marks the fifth edition of the tournament with Fort Portal being the most successful side having won three titles since the tournament was relaunched in 2012.
Oyo said the kingdom is using sports to fight diseases such as HIV/AIDS among the youth. The king urged the youth to embrace sports as an alternative source of income and pledged the kingdom's support towards sports activities.
Toro kingdom Minister for sports Nesta Rally said the Masaza cup is aimed at developing the talents of the youth in the kingdom.
"Through the Masaza tournament we identify talents of the youth and help them develop because football like any other sport helps to keep the youth busy,"Nesta said.
A number of regional team players who recently played against the Uganda Cranes have featured in the tournament with the latest being Selive Mumbere, Morris Agaba and John Aliga.
Ten counties in different groups are participating in the tournament. They include Fort Portal, Burahya, Karugutu, Kyaka north, Kyaka south and Kitagwenda.