Quarter finals
8th November 2024
Budiope vs Bukono – 12pm
Bugabula vs Busiki
9th November 2024
Kigulu vs Buzaaya
Butembe vs Bunha
The people of Budiope County, Buyende district, are ecstatic after their football team, Budiope FC, qualified for the quarterfinals of the MTN Busoga Masaza Cup.
Budiope FC overcame a weak Bulamogi, defending champions Busiki and a stubborn Bugweri to top the Nendha Group. They are now preparing to take on an ambitious Bukono in the quarter finals in Bugembe at Kyabazinga Stadium Friday afternoon.
For the past years, Budiope FC has been the underdogs, barely making it out of the group stages. The first and last time Budiope qualified from the group was in 2017 when Butembe knocked them out of the tournament at the semi final stage.
The Budiope FC head coach, Isa Kifuwa, is focused on achieving more than the 2017 feat and bag the trophy. “We are a strong team and we are preparing to be winners. We understand the task at hand,” Kifuwa said with confidence.
“I was head coach of Bukono last season, I understand their game. There will be no surprises on my side. We are going to Bugembe to win, and then prepare for the semi finals. We are focused on winning the trophy,” he added.
Team captain Samuel Etoo reechoed his coaches words and said that they are doing all it takes to win the quarter finals. “We have a job to do and it is to win the trophy for Budiope. This will be historic and we want to be part of the history – when Budiope won its first Masaza Cup trophy,” he said.
An elated Julius Mirimu, the chief executive officer of Budiope FC, said they are taking one game at a time because there is no weak team in the tournament.
“We are respecting our opponents by training hard. We know Bukono will come prepared for a win but we are hungrier to win the trophy. I expect a good game in Bugembe on Friday. Only a win will satisfy us,” Mirimu said.
He thanked the people of Budiope for supporting their team morally and financially. “We are achieving this success because the people of Budiope believed in us and supported us. They have funded the team’s activities and we are thankful. We wouldn’t have come this far without our fans and funders,” he added.
Budiope FC fans have been rallied to come from near and far to cheer their team in Bugembe. Nicholas Kafeero, a member of the team’s organizing committee, encouraged the fans to travel early because the game will be played at noon.
Peter Kairanya, one of the many fans looking to make the trip to Bugembe to cheer Budiope FC is confident they will come out Kyabazinga Stadium with a win.
“The boys have shown that they are capable. They have given us hope. We believe that that they will outplay Bukono and knock them out of the tournament,” an optimistic Kairanya said.
