Author: Brian Kawalya

Betway KOBs prop Collin Kimbowa remains positive that his side will turn the corner after a poor start to the National Rugby Premiership season. The defending champions who won the 2021 title unbeaten, have already lost two of their opening three games this season. They got off the mark with a deserved 46-05 win over Impis before back-to-back losses against title rivals Heathens (07-06) and Pirates (17-14). Justin Kimono scored KOBSs’ only try on Saturday at Legends while Josiah Ssempeke added other points with the boot in a losing effort. Haruna Muhammed (1 try), Ivan Magomu (3 penalties) and William…

Selected Results MenSemis:•UPDF 12-16 DemBoyz•UCU Canons 11-9 Bucks Final•DemBoyz 17-22 UCU Canons WomenSemis:•Generals 09-11 UCU Lady Canons•Aces 17-13 KIU Rangers Final:•UCU Lady Canons 17-05 Aces Yes, the basketball season is back! UCU teams were crowned the men and women Champions on Sunday during the inaugural KIU 3X3 Basketball tournament. The Mukono-based side teams took home Sh500,000 each as prize money for topping the two-day event held in Kansanga. The UCU men’s team of Ibanda Lwabaga, Jerry Kayanga, Rogers Dauna and Peter Sifuma beat Dem Boys (Daniel Manoja, Michael Makiadi, Chris Omanye and Tonny Drilleba) 22-17 in the final. It was…

Sunday, January 23•Burkina Faso (7)1-1(6) Gabon•Nigeria 0-1 Tunisia Monday, January 24•Guinea Vs Gambia – 7pm•Cameroon vs Comoros – 10pm Nigeria bundled out of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations after a 1-0 stunning loss to Tunisia in a round of 16 tie played at the Roumde Adjia stadium in Garoua. The Super Eagles, who had won all their Group stage matches, finished the game a man down but fought valiantly on the night they will want to forget easily. Youssef Msakni scored the all important goal to send the Carthage of Eagles to the quarterfinals where they meet Burkina Faso…

Sunday, January 23•Burkina Faso (7)1-1(6) Gabon Burkina Faso needed penalties to knockout Gabon and reach the quarterfinals of the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. In an eventful affair, Bertrand Traore put Burkinabe in front after missing a penalty earlier, Gabon saw Sidney Mboumin Obissa sent off before finding a late equaliser. And Gabon held on in extra time to send the game into shootouts. In penalties, Gabon’s Lloyd Palun hit the crossbar before Ismahila Quedraogo converted his decisive kick to send Burkina Faso into wild celebrations. Gabon sunk in agony but they had given it their all…

Saturday, January 22•Uganda 1-2 Ghana Uganda lost to Ghana 2-1 in the first leg of the fourth round of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende. Salamatu Abdulai and Grace Aminah goals either side of the halftime break condemned Uganda to the edge of World Cup Qualifiers exit. Fauziah Najjemba’s penalty in the closing stages proved not enough for Uganda in what turned out to be a disappointing evening. It’s now work cut out for Ayub Khalifa’s charges who need to win 2-0 away in the return leg in two weeks time to overturn the…

Ugandan golfer Deo Akope has expressed readiness for the upcoming Safari Tours after a timely intervention from ATX Technology, the leading telecom and power infrastructure construction company. Akope received Sh35m sponsorship package from ATX Technology and has vowed to bring honour home. He is set to fly out to Nairobi for the last three golf legs of the Safari Tour Series – The events will be hosted at Limuru Golf Club (January 22-26), Karen Country Club (February 5-9) and Muthaiga Golf Club (February 12-16). These are build-ups to the Magical Kenya Open due March 3-6 at Muthaiga. Akope, who is…

Tuesday, January 18•Moldova 2-3 Uganda Uganda Cranes showed character against Moldova as they rallied from two goals down to win 3-2 at the Titanic Sports Centre in Antalya, Turkey. Moldova were on course for a comfortable win after goals from Dmitri Madricenco and Mihail Platica put the side two up inside the first quarter of the game. But Patrick Kaddu’s penalty brace and Milton Karisa’s exquisite strike helped Uganda have the last laugh. Yunus Sentamu was tripped in the area for Kaddu to halve the deficit in the 34th minute. And Uganda almost found an equaliser but Shaban Muhammad’s effort…

The much anticipated Singleton Challenge season six will tee off this Saturday with the qualification round at Entebbe Golf Club. The tournament, which is set to attract over 228 players, makes a return after Season Five did not play out to completion due to Covid19 pandemic. Only 64 pairs will be selected for Round one that will get underway on February 12 2022. The Grandfinale will be held in July. Officials during the press launch in Entebbe Singleton single malt whisky has boosted the event with Sh350m. “I want to thank Singleton in a special way for arranging and taking…

Uganda Cranes captain Khalid Aucho has narrated his football journey that include a couple of stumbling blocks. In a wide range interview, the Young Africans midfielder reflected on his ‘hard’ life in Egypt and also spared some time to break silence on his previous suspension on the National team. It’s a touching story of Aucho who lost parents at an early age, and had to sale refreshments at Bugembe stadium and work in an abattoir to make ends meet. Early Struggles… Born to the late Muhammed Kakaire and Harriet Nalumansi in Jinja 28 years ago, Aucho started his education journey…

Sports Journalists have advised FUFA President Moses Magogo to train the Ex-players if they are to do match analysis on TVs and Radios. The strong response comes in the wake of recent comments by Magogo claiming that the Ex-players are supposed to do analysis not Sports Journalists! “Analysis of football matches and sports journalism are 2 different things. Whatever the experience and training can never give the insight of having been on the pitch playing,” Magogo recently claimed in reference to UBC TV failing to employ a former player to analyse the ongoing AFCON in Cameroon. “In my view, it…

Uganda’s Fixture•January 18th, 2022: Uganda vs. South Africa, Queens Park Oval – Trinidad Tobago•January 22th, 2022: Uganda vs. India, Brian Lara Cricket Ground – Trinidad Tobago Uganda coach Ivan Thawithemwira has picked positives from the team’s loss to Ireland ahead of their second game with South Africa in Group B at the ongoing ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in West Indies. Uganda put up a commendable show on Saturday but lost to Ireland by 39 runs. The Baby Cricket Cranes showed resolve for extended stretches including a couple of individual brilliance. Thawithemwira was impressed and said that they will look…

Sunday, December 16*Algeria 0-1 Equatorial Guinea Defending champions Algeria suffered a shock defeat to Equatorial Guinea in Group E of the 2021 AFCON in Douala, falling short of a World record! Esteban Fernandez scored the only goal, striking in the 70th minute, in a closely contested affair. The result ends Algeria’s unbeaten run that had seen the Desert Warriors go 35 matches without a loss. Italy holds the record for most games played without a loss – 37. The Azzuri’z run was ended in October last year after a 2-1 semifinal loss to Spain in Milan in the UEFA Nations…

Saturday, January 15•Nigeria 3-1 Sudan•Guinea Bissau 0-1 Egypt Sunday, January 16•Gambia Vs Mali – 4pm•Ivory Coast Vs Sierra Leone – 7pm•Tunisia Vs Mauritania – 7pm•Algeria Vs Equatorial Guinea – 10pm Mohammed Salah scored the only goal as Egypt finally got off the mark at the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. Salah volleyed home with his left foot after a decent assist from Amro El Soulia in the 70th minute to dent Guinea Bissau. The Liverpool forward had received strong criticism after his poor show as Egypt lost to Nigeria in their opener last week. But his only…

Sunday, January 16•Heathens 07-06 KOBs•Pirates 64-03 Rams•Mongers 11-10 Rhinos•Buffaloes 14-14 Impis•Hippos 46-05 Warriors Heathens managed to edge rivals KOBs in a closely contested affair in a Rugby Premiership game at Kyadondo. KOBs took the lead through a well converted penalty from Joseph Aredo but they failed to capitalise on their advantage as Heathens staged a comeback in the second stanza. Innocent Gwokto scored the game’s only Try and Aaron Ofoyrwoth duly split the uprights to send Heathens up-front. Despite Josiah Ssempeke bringing KOBs within touching distance when he converted another penalty, Heathens held on for a needed win. It was…

Saturday, January 15Ireland – 236/9Uganda 197 (48.1/50 ov)*Ireland win by 39 runs Uganda lost their opening Group B match of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup against Ireland by 39 runs at the Everest ground, Georgetown in Guyana. The Baby Cricket Cranes sent in Ireland to bat first after winning the toss, a decision that looked to be working after they picked four wickets before Ireland crossed the 100-mark. Despite efforts from Joshua Baguma (2-34) and Mathew Musinguzi (2-35), Joshua Cox hit an unbeaten 111 off 113 runs to help Ireland set a lofty 236. Uganda (yellow). courtesy photo Uganda’s…

Friday, January 14•Senegal 0-0 Guinea•Malawi 2-1 Zimbabwe•Morocco 2-0 Comoros•Gabon 1-1 Ghana Saturday, January 15•Nigeria Vs Sudan – 5pm•Guinea Bissau Vs Egypt – 10pm Ghana captain Andrew Ayew scored a beauty but it was not enough as the Black Stars played out a 1-1 draw with Gabon in a Group C match at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde. Ayew made a swift turn to free himself from Anthony Henri before launching a rocket that eluded Gabon keeper Noel Amonome in the 18th minute. But Gabon, without influential captain Pierre Aubameyang, found a late equaliser in the 88th minute thanks to…

SC Villa are set to confirm the signing of old gun Saddam Juma and a couple of other fringe players before the start of the second round. Juma has been without a club since ending his stay at KCCA FC in 2020! The former Vipers and Express midfielder has been training with SC Villa at Uganda Martyrs Rubaga. Martin Opolot (Emmanuel Okwi’s brother), Martin Arinaitwe Chicharito (Tooro United) and some players from Masaza Cup have been seen at the club’s training ground as well. The Club is rumoured to have also joined the race to acquire goalkeeper Robert Odongkara. Saddam…

Defender Murushid Juuko has retired from International football, the Express FC player has confirmed. It’s a shocking development for Juuko who made his Uganda Cranes debut on 11 July 2014 against Seychelles. In his resignation letter sent to FUFA, Juuko said that “I believe I have served the country enough and it’s time for me to call it a day with Uganda Cranes.” “This has not been a simple decision for me to make but together with my family and management we think this is the right step for me to take.” https://twitter.com/BrianKawalya1/status/1481556045361291268?t=uns7HYZdsXmpOzyTIYslyQ&s=19 Juuko’s last Uganda Cranes match was on September 6…

There was late drama in Mali’s 1-0 win over Tunisia after Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe twice ended the Group F AFCON match prematurely in Limbe. Sikazwe was the centre of attention when he blew the final whistle in 85th minute before he continued play after realising that he got his timings wrong. He then ended the game in the 89th minute without additional time! Tunisia officials expressed their discontent and protested the awful decision. And there was still more drama to come. The post match conference was cancelled as officials ruled that teams should play out the remaining minutes. Mali…

Wednesday, January 12•Iceland 1-1 Uganda Patrick Kaddu scored from the spot to help Uganda Cranes hold Iceland in their friendly match in Antalya, Turkey. Jón Daði Böðvarsson who plays for English Championship side Millwall handed Iceland a dream start when he bundled home the opener in the 6th minute after a good assist from Viðar Ari Jónsson. Milton Karisa beat his mark with pace who brought him down in the box for the referee to point to the spot. And Kaddu, unattached since ending his spell in Morocco, converted from the spot at the half-hour mark. Uganda defended admirably and…