Lung’a Football Club were crowned Joshua Wabwire Cup champions after narrowly beating Mabale Football Club 4-3 on post-match penalties in the final played at Mundika boys primary school grounds, Busia County.
During the final match yesterday, Mabale stunned Lungá, the defending champions, with an 18th minute goal through Emmanuel Omondi before Lung’a rallied to level the score in the 38th minute through Habib Haji.
Despite missed chances from both sides, the score remained 1-1 until end of normal time leading to a penalty shoot out to determine the winner with Lung’a being crowned champions in the tournament sponsored by Nairobi-based lawyer Joshua Wabwire.
During the semi-final at Mundika Boys Primary school, Mabale edged Munongo FC 1-0 with Emmanuel Omondi netting the lone goal in the 65th minute.
In the other semis played at Lwanya boys’ primary school, Lung’a beat Lwanya Junction 1-0 with Erick Peter accounting for the lone goal in the 33rd minute.
Lwanya Junction finished third after trouncing Munongo 3-0 at Lwanya primary school. Gift Khaseke netted the first goal in the 56th minute before Chrisantus Ongoro struck a brace in the 75th and 86th minutes.
Lung’a received a trophy and a cash award of Sh 50,000. First runners-up Mabale received a trophy and Sh 30,000. Second runners-up Lwanya junction received Sh 20,000 while fourth placed Mungongo pocketing Sh 10,000.
All the top four teams received a set of uniforms, while the twenty-five teams drawn from Matayos constituency that participated in the annual tournament were all given new soccer balls.
The final was graced by Patrick Matasi, Harambee Stars goalkeeper who encouraged the youths to work hard, be disciplined and focus on their talent, whether in football or elsewhere as it would lead them places.
The sponsor Joshua Wabwire said the tournament is meant to nurture youth talent, unite people and provide entertainment.
“We want our youth to be engaged meaningfully, and to show that talent opens opportunities,” he said, emphasizing that the objective is to nurture talents that abound in the constituency and help address social challenges such as alcohol and drug abuse and other negative distractions that divert the youth from progressive activities.
Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi who graced the finals encouraged the youths to work hard, be disciplined and focus on their talent, whether in football or elsewhere as it would to lead them to better prospects in future.
This is the 3rd edition of the Joshua Wabwire Super cup, with the first edition having been in December 2021. Wabwire, an alumnus of the University of Oxford Faculty of Law, announced that four of the best players will be linked to national soccer academies for further training and mentorship.
By Absalom Namwalo
