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David GOMBE
Kalema’s journey from the dusty playgrounds of Kiboga to the nationwide highlight stands as one of many strongest testimonies to the transformative energy of the the Airtel Masaza Cup.
Born and raised in Kiboga by Teopista Birungi and the late Ben Kimuli, Kalema’s soccer expertise manifested at an early age. Apparently, he didn’t start his profession as a striker. Whereas in main college, he joined a soccer academy the place he initially performed as a left again. Nevertheless, one among his coaches shortly recognized his attacking instincts and transformed him right into a ahead, a call that redefined his soccer profession.
Kalema attended St. Andrews Major Faculty in Kiboga earlier than becoming a member of St. Paul Kyamutwe, popularly often known as Rock Base. He later accomplished his main schooling at St. Balikuddembe Major Faculty, a government-aided establishment in Kyankwanzi District.
He later joined Kiboga United FC to play within the FUFA Regional League, the place he scored 11 objectives whereas nonetheless in Senior Two at Gentle Secondary Faculty and later Vienna Secondary Faculty. His efficiency caught the eye of Buddo Secondary Faculty, the place he joined for S.3 and S.4 beneath the steering of coach Simon Peter Mugerwa.
Whereas Kalema was in Senior Three at Buddo, Mugerwa was appointed head coach of Busiro County for the 2022 Masaza Cup event. Assured in his younger striker’s capacity, he included Kalema within the squad, a possibility he utilized so properly.
“I checked out this as an enormous alternative, and I set myself a goal of scoring a minimum of 4 objectives within the event. I surpassed my goal and scored 5 objectives, contributing to Busiro’s first Masaza Cup title in 18 years,” Kalema recollects.
Following Busiro’s victory, Kalema moved to Mawokota for the 2023 version of the event. Though issues didn’t go solely as deliberate, the staff managed a third-place end.
The next season, in 2024, he crossed to Buweekula County, the place he scored 4 objectives and helped the staff safe one other bronze medal end. His spectacular performances earned him a return to Buweekula for the 2025 version.
Figuring out it might probably be his last look within the Masaza Cup, Kalema determined to depart an unforgettable mark on the event.
On the finish of the competitors, he helped Buweekula win its first Masaza Cup title since 2004, emerged the event’s Most Precious Participant, netted 7 objectives and gained the Golden Boot.
Whereas Kalema targeted on bettering his ending capacity, scouts from Kitara FC had already recognized him as a particular expertise. His tempo, motion, and skill to torment defenders made him unattainable to disregard.
Quickly after the ultimate, Kalema signed a two-year contract with Kitara FC. Inside just a few months of becoming a member of the membership, he scored the successful purpose in opposition to Sports activities Membership Villa to safe Kitara’s second Stanbic Uganda Cup title in three years.
“I performed my final video games for Buweekula whereas we had been already in talks with Kitara FC. By the point I completed the ultimate in opposition to Ssingo, my contract with Kitara was nearly full,” he says.
Kalema reveals that his determination to hitch Kitara was largely influenced by the prospect of getting common enjoying time, a possibility he says the membership has offered. Regardless of curiosity from different high golf equipment, together with Categorical FC and URA FC, he believed Kitara provided one of the best setting for his development.
He credit the Masaza Cup for giving him the platform to shine and additional develop his expertise.
“The Masaza Cup has not solely given me a possibility to exhibit my expertise, nevertheless it has additionally helped me enhance by the steering from coaches and fellow gamers. I strongly imagine the event continues to deliver many younger gamers into the highlight, identical to it did for me,” he says.
Kalema now desires of representing the Uganda Cranes and finally securing an expert transfer overseas. He believes attaining these objectives is just a matter of continued laborious work and persistence.
He advises younger footballers to deal with growing their expertise first if they’re to go far in soccer.”My fellow gamers must work laborious and construct their careers first as a substitute of chasing cash. You may get cash and it will get completed, however with out good efficiency, you can’t earn extra of it,” he says.
Kalema’s success story is only one amongst many produced by the Airtel Masaza Cup. Over time, the competitors has nurtured quite a few gamers who’ve gone on to characteristic in Uganda’s top-flight league, symbolize the Uganda Cranes, and safe skilled contracts overseas.
Different notable beneficiaries embrace Hassan Mubiru of Butambala, who not too long ago joined Azam FC in Tanzania from Sports activities Membership Villa, Yunus Ssentamu, Nicholas Kabonge, Emma Okwi, and Farouk Miya, who helped Mawokota win the Masaza Cup in 2013 earlier than scoring the historic purpose that returned Uganda to the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017 after a 39-year absence.
The Buganda Kingdom Premier, Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga, says expertise growth is a key precedence in Masaza event, which has given many gamers an opportunity to showcase their skills earlier than occurring to fly the nationwide flag. He commends the competitors for empowering youth with precious alternatives whereas inspiring unity and progress.
“The Masaza Cup presents employment, builds unity and brings in income. It’s a true platform for expertise and transformation,” Mayiga says.
David Birungi, the Supervisor, Communications and Company at Airtel Uganda who’re the premium sponsors for the cup says the corporate’s 13-year sponsorship of the Masaza Cup has yielded important ends in expertise growth.
“For the years Airtel has supported the Masaza Cup, we’ve got seen many gifted gamers progress to the nationwide staff {and professional} golf equipment overseas. We stay dedicated to investing within the event to proceed producing expertise that contributes to the expansion of Ugandan soccer,” Birungi says.
Launched in 2004 and first gained by Gomba, the Masaza Cup continues to establish and nurture extra younger abilities, empower youth, and promote cultural id and unity in Uganda and past.
For Jimmy Kalema, the Airtel Masaza Cup was greater than only a competitors. It was the stage that remodeled a gifted teenager from Kiboga into one among Uganda’s brightest rising strikers, a robust reminder of what can occur when uncooked expertise is given the chance to shine.
