By Alex Ashaba
The 2025 Tooro Kingdom MTN Masaza Cup kicked off Group C action on Sunday with a hard-fought 0-0 draw between Mwenge South (Kyenjojo District) and Bunyangabu County at Katoosa Playground.
While the scoreboard remained unchanged, the contest delivered plenty of drama. The game’s turning point came midway through the first half when Bunyangabu captain and goalkeeper Kyomuhendo Hamuza was shown a straight red card for handling the ball outside the penalty area.
Forced into an early reshuffle, head coach Fred Arinaitwe sacrificed winger Frank Mabiro to bring on backup goalkeeper Goffrey Birungi. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Bunyangabu showed resilience, with Birungi delivering a standout performance between the posts. The substitute shot-stopper pulled off a string of crucial saves to deny Mwenge South attackers, particularly captain Isaac Musunga, who led the charge alongside Mirembe in a dominant second-half spell.
Musunga’s commanding display earned him the MTN Kabonde Phone as Man of the Match in the football category, while Christine from Mwenge South was awarded the top netball honor.
The result leaves both teams level on one point, with Mwenge North yet to feature in the group. They will make their tournament debut on Sunday, July 13, against Bunyangabu at Kibiito SS Playground.
In netball, which is making its inaugural appearance in the Masaza Cup, Mwenge South booked their place in the semi-finals, joining Kyaka and Kitagwenda, who secured qualification on June 8 and 15, respectively.
Attention now shifts to the upcoming Group B clash this Sunday, with Kibale County set to host Fort Portal City at Rwamwanja SS Grounds in Kamwenge District—a fixture expected to further intensify the battle for knockout spots.
This year’s tournament features an increased prize pool. The football champions will take home UGX 12 million, up from UGX 7.5 million last year. The runners-up will receive UGX 6 million, third place UGX 4 million, and fourth UGX 3 million.
In the netball category, the champions will earn UGX 5 million, while the first, second, and third runners-up will receive UGX 2.5 million, UGX 1.5 million, and UGX 1 million respectively.
As the group stage heats up, the Masaza Cup continues to bring together communities across Tooro Kingdom, blending competition with cultural celebration.
