This year’s 14th Edition of the CDF soccer cup tournament that is played annually on a rotational basis, started on Monday, at Buhinga stadium in Fort Portal tourist city.
The soccer tournament comprising of 19 football teams drawn from Divisions, Brigades and independent units, and six netball teams, started with a route match along the streets of Fort Portal city led by the second in command Mountain Division; Col John Winston Mugarura.
Presiding over the flagging off ceremony, Maj Gen Kayanja Muhanga; who represented the CDF, informed invited guests and spectators that CDF soccer cup is meant to build team work, bring forces close to people by strengthening ties, enhance leadership, discipline, learning from failure and sportsmanship. “Sports help in promoting a culture of physical fitness. People who engage in sports have good health and bodily strength a critical requirement in the armed forces.” Explained Gen Kayanja Muhanga, adding that; sports make a vital contribution in the defence forces towards fighting spirit, morale, personality development and ultimately operational development.
Gen Kayanja who is the Mountain Division Commander and the host of this year’s CDF soccer tournament, said that sports ensure troops and officers learn how to fight to win no matter it is in war or game.
Meanwhile, the Kabarole district LCV Chairman Mr. Rwabuhinga Richard who represented leaders in the region, applauded UPDF for the initiative. He said that the population was grateful to the armed forces for getting time off their important duty of protecting Ugandans and their property and the frontiers of this country. “To come and participate in this confidence building and relationship building activities, we don’t take this for granted. We think it is an opportunity to continue firming the relationship between the masses and officers in uniform, to show and demonstrate that we are one people serving the same country, and who must coexist in a cordial environment and cordial relationship.” Noted Mr. Rwabuhinga Richard.
Under a heavy downpour, the Mountain Division and Field Artillery Divisions’ football teams matched to the football pitch to face off. At the same time, Military Police versus First Division netball teams to face off. At the end of the matches, Mountain Division Versus Field Artillery Division was goalless. O the side of Netball teams, Military Police won by 40 points against First Division with 13 points.
Chief of Defence Forces soccer cup was launched in 1988 during the time of Gen Salim Saleh as Army Commander. However, due to insurgences in the country then, some years the cup was skipped but resurfaced during the era of Gen David Muhoozi.
So far 13 editions have been played and last year Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces – Air Forces (UPDF – AF) hosted the CDF soccer cup; where Motorized Infantry Brigade (MOI) won the trophy that has defended the soccer cup for two consecutive years.
This year’s final match will be on the 3rd of May 2022 at Buhinga stadium Fort Portal city where the CDF Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi is expected to grace the occasion.
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