By Musa Kikuuno | BusogaTimes.com
As the anticipation builds for the kickoff of the MTN Busoga Masaza Cup 2025, Bukooli Namayingo finds itself in a precarious position. In a shocking turn of events, the team is currently operating with a virtually empty committee, leaving CEO Ivan Esau as the sole remaining figure. This unexpected leadership void casts a significant shadow over their preparations and raises serious concerns about their prospects in the upcoming tournament.
Speaking exclusively to Busoga Times, Esau confirmed the mass exodus following their disappointing early exit from the 2024 edition. “We are now looking at recruiting new committee members. The majority left their roles immediately after our last match of the last edition,” Esau explained. “It’s only the CEO position being technical that’s filled by me. All other positions are vacant.”
This internal crisis couldn’t have come at a worse time. With the organizing committee for the 2025 edition already underway, and Esau himself appointed to the central planning team, the pressure is on to quickly rebuild a comprehensive support structure for the team.
The vacant positions are critical for the smooth functioning of any competitive team and include vital roles such as Team Manager, Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Team Doctor, Physiotherapist, Media & Communications Officer, Logistics Coordinator, Welfare Officer, and Technical Advisor. Filling these roles with capable individuals will be crucial if Bukooli Namayingo hopes to make a meaningful impact on the tournament.
The team’s current predicament stands in stark contrast to their recent history. In the 2024 edition, Bukooli Namayingo languished at the bottom of Group Kagulu, overshadowed by Butembe and Buzaya. With only four points secured from four matches – a single win, a draw, and two defeats – they failed to progress to the knockout stage. The defining blow came in their final group match, a 1-0 defeat to Butembe in Budondo, sealing their fate and marking the end of their season.
This performance was a bitter pill to swallow for the team, especially considering their glorious triumph in 2022. That year, Bukooli Namayingo etched their name in Masaza Cup history, lifting their first-ever trophy after a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Kigulu in the final. This remarkable achievement now feels like a distant memory, overshadowed by the current internal turmoil.
This year, the focus will not just be on Bukooli Namayingo’s performance on the pitch, but also on their ability to overcome this significant administrative challenge. The team is facing a race against time to assemble a competent and dedicated committee that can guide them through the tournament.
Bukooli Namayingo’s internal restructuring will undoubtedly be one of the most closely watched stories in Busoga Masaza Cup football. Can the former champions rise from the ashes of disarray and rebuild a competitive team? Or are they destined for another year of rebuilding, struggling to recapture the magic that once defined their Masaza Cup journey? Only time will tell.
The list of recent champions continues to grow, showing how competitive the tournament has become:
2016: Bukooli North beat Bunha
2017: Butembe beat Bunha
2018: Kigulu beat Butembe
2019: Kigulu beat Bunha
2022: Bukooli Namayingo beat Kigulu
2023: Busiki edged Butembe 1-0 (Goal by Ismail Ndifuna)
2024: Butembe beat Bukono 1-0 (Goal by Ivan Nakalanda, 11th minute at Bugembe Stadium)
