Parliament FC to play UEFA Legends next month as Slum Soccer ends

The Parliament of Uganda football team will play a select side of UEFA Legends next month in a charity match in support of the Aliguma Foundation.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin will lead the team in what is going to be his second visit to the country which he last visited in March last year at the invitation of the foundation.

After his visit last year, Ceferin promised to visit more often to such projects ‘to get a real feel of what people go through’

Now, according to the foundation founder Rita Aliguma, Ceferin is going to return with at least 23 UEFA legends who will face off with the parliament team. They will also visit the Aliguma Foundation empowerment center in Masindi.

“They are going to land in the country on February 11 before they visit the Acholi Quarters and carry out different activities the following day and before they play against Parliament FC in the afternoon,” Aliguma stated.

Luigi goalkeeper Sammon Oloka saves a penalty during a shootout against AQ Galacticos during the Slum Soccer competition at Acholi Quarters, January 27, 2024. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“This match was originally planned for Namboole but since that venue is still under repair we shall opt for another venue which we shall communicate later,”

Meanwhile, the eighth edition of the Annual Slums Soccer Tournament ended on Saturday with Luigi FC beating AQ Galacticos 8-7 on penalties after a goalless draw in the main match.

Luigi goalkeeper Sammon Oloka was the star for his side after he saved Cassilas Abu’s penalty in the shootout.

Oloka had also converted his after Dickson Odeke, Mike Kintu, Mark Asiku, Thoma Bongomin, Rashid Kodia, Okello Ninja, and Ronald Adroni had converted theirs.

Nakawa Mayor Paul Mugambe rewarded the winners with sh100,000/- and sh50,000/- to the runners-up in addition to a cow and a goat they received respectively.

Nakawa Mayor Paul Mugambe (left) and Rita Aliguma (right) present prizes to Luigi FC captain Mark Asiku after the Slum Soccer competition at Acholi Quarters, January 27, 2024. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

In the other matches, the Lakers beat Real Mercy 3-0 in the U-15 category final while the Aliguma SC beat Bolingo by the same margin in the U-13.

In the netball action, it was the Super-7 that prevailed over the AQ Galacticos with a 28-11 victory.

“The tournament started in early December and the team on the ground has been at hand to ensure its success. We have shown consistency which shows that all the people and the players connected to this tournament are determined to ensure that the event continues to meet its goals,” Aliguma stated.

Three years ago the Slum Soccer project under the Aliguma Foundation was selected among 55 new children’s projects to be funded by the UEFA Foundation for Children, as they celebrated World Children’s Day.

Over sh22b was shared out to 16 other African NGOs) as a new project or an extension of existing projects, in line with UEFA’s mission to protect children’s fundamental rights in health and protection, children with disabilities, education and personal development, access to sport, integration of minorities and protection for victims of conflicts.