Team Uganda registered its first win
David GOMBE
Team Uganda, under the Former Footballers Initiative (FFI), registered their first win of the second edition of the East African Legends Festival at Nairobi City Stadium, Kenya.
The Ugandan side, comprising several ex-internationals, lost their opening game of the tournament – which features former players aged 60 and above – to Zanzibar on Monday and needed a response against the hosts on Tuesday.
Goals from former Nsambya FC right-back Edward Nsubuga and former Express FC defender William Makumbi secured maximum points for Uganda.
Nsubuga gave Team Uganda the lead on the stroke of halftime after being set up by former SC Villa defender Rajab Sekalye to beat the Kenyan goalkeeper who had made several saves.
In the second half, Makumbi weaved past several Kenyan players to strike the second for Uganda.
Issa Salim Isabirye also had a golden chance to score a third when he was set up by Fred Sseruga Musisi in the closing stages.
Team Uganda will next face Tanzania on Wednesday, the climax of the festival, and will need a win to stand a chance of dethroning the current leaders. Tanzania lead with four points after one win and a draw, while Zanzibar are also in contention with four points following their win over Uganda and a 1-1 stalemate with neighbours Tanzania on Tuesday.
Uganda’s team includes Jimmy Ssekandi, who formerly turned out for Express FC, Uganda Commercial Bank FC, KCC FC and Nsambya FC; former Wandegeya, Express FC and Entebbe Works player Kennedy Lubogo; former Nsambya right-back Edward Nsubuga; former Express FC defender William Makumbi; former SC Villa defender Rajab Sekalye; former UCB captain Polycap Kisekka; Issa Salim Isabirye, who featured as a midfielder for Nytil, Nsambya, Kenya’s Taitex Mills FC and Kenya Breweries (now Tusker FC); goalkeeper Ali Ssengedeya, who featured for the Uganda Cranes at the 1974 and 1976 Africa Cup of Nations; and the sensational Isa Ssekatawa, a former KCC, Nytil and Express FC forward who remains the only player to win the Ugandan top-flight golden boot for three consecutive seasons.
The festival, held under the theme “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,” is organised by AgeWatch Africa under the banner “Dignity in Every Season.”