The 2024 MTN Tooro Masaza Cup kicked off over the weekend with defending champions Mwenge South edging Burahyain in the season opener played at the Katoosa playground in Kyenjojo.
Burahya took an early lead in the well-attended game, setting the stage for what was an intense battle.
However, Mwenge South responded through Shafiq Mwesige who found the equalizer and ensured the teams went into the halftime break level at 1-1.
In the closely contested second half, it was Mwenge South that eventually found the breakthrough with Razak Musinguzi netting the decisive goal six minutes from time to secure a 2-1 victory for the hosts.
“We know Burahya is not an easy team, but we also have good players who are determined. I’m happy that we played as a team and won as a team,” Mwesigye, one of the scorers for Mwenge, said in the aftermath of the game.
Burahya, who also narrowly missed out on the title to Mwenge South last year, now face questions about their ability to dethrone Mwenge but their team manager Murungi Musobozi says the fans should expect the best.
“The team was well-organized, but some mistakes cost us. We’ve been training hard and have summoned the best players from the County. Our fans should still expect the best from us,” Musobozi reflected on the match.
The MTN Tooro Amasaza Cup was officially launched recently in Fort Portal by Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Steven Kiyingi, who expressed his delight at the growing standard of the MasazaCup. He also urged sportsmen to leverage the tournament’s popularity to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which remains a significant challenge in the community.
MTN’s partnership with Tooro Kingdom extends beyond football and encompasses providing HIV testing services to residents and supporting the “End HIV by 2030” campaign led by OmukamaKabamba Iguru. This initiative underscores the organizers’ commitment to improving the health and well-being of the community.
Adding excitement to this year’s tournament, the prize money has been increased from 5 million to 7.5 million Ugandan Shillings courtesy of MTN Uganda.
The Masaza Cup action will resume next weekend with a full schedule of games, promising more excitement and competitive football.
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