Ssingo Ssaza is deserved winner of the 2018 Airtel Masaza Cup. The win was achieved in a dramatic fashion following a closely contested final with Buddu before an anxious crowd that included the King of Buganda, His Majesty Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II at Mandela National stadium, Namboole on Saturday 27th October 2018.
Ssingo’s Isaac Otto failed to put the ball past the net while the goalie Hadad Mutumba was beaten outside his goal area by Buddu in one of the early chances created.
Ssingo rallied back with a heroic fight, equalizing the game through Mande Godfrey Kakooza three minutes after the hour mark.
Goal Scorers
Ssingo’s forward Jude Ssemugabi, the tournament top scorer with 8 goals to his name rose up in the game after 35 minutes with a shot off target from 35 yards.
Forward Frank Ssebuffu lit up Namboole with a cool finish in the 48th minute past goalkeeper Emmanuel Derrick Were.
None of the teams could score during the extra time, sending the game into an exciting penalty shoot-out.
The Match
Earlier, Buddu had a strong and promising start with good command of the midfield through skipper Ivan Sserubiri and Mikidadi Ssenyonga who owned the central midfield department
Ssingo was led by Wilbeforce Ssenyonga who was full of life and passion. Ssenyonga was a darling to follow in the early stages of the first half although the missing link remained with poor coordination with his forward Kuteesa Marida.
Buddu skipper Sserubiri delivered a free-kick from close range that went out inches wide. The Masaka based player had another chance on the stroke of half time when his free-kick was saved by goalkeeper Derrick Emmanuel Were sending the two teams back to the locker-rooms tied goal-less.
Buddu came back from half time in better form, finding the back of the net two minutes into the second half.
Their joy was however short lived when Godfrey Kakooza of Ssingo equalized in the 63rd minute.
Normal time ended and the added extra 30 minutes produced no clear winner sending both teams to penalties.
In the shoot out, Buddu used three different goalkeepers and had a chance to win but missed the opportunity.
Ssingo ended it 12-11 bagging yet another victory over Buddu in the final, following the 5-0 win during the 2015 finale at Namboole.
Besides the main trophy and winners’ gold medals, the victorious team was rewarded by a cash prize of Shs 10M, runners up took Shs 7M and silver medals.