“Luck finds those with a strategy” – FUFA President Magogo hails Uganda U-17, charts vision for football growth

Federation of Uganda Football Associations president Moses Magogo. Photo Credit: FUFA Media

FUFA President Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim heaped praise on the Uganda U-17 national team for their historic qualification to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, describing the achievement as a product of strategy, discipline and years of dedicated development.

Speaking during a special welcome reception hosted at Sheraton Hotel on Monday morning, Magogo commended the players and coaching staff for writing a new chapter in Uganda’s football history.

“The coach and your entire team, this is your moment to enjoy but also for Ugandans,” he declared, visibly proud of the young stars’ monumental accomplishment.

Magogo went on to express heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Uganda, led by H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Minister of Education and Sports, First Lady Janet Museveni, for their continued support in the development of sports infrastructure and the advancement of football in the country.

“We’re talking about players under the age of 17, still under parental care, and we appreciate that their guardians allowed them to represent their country,” Magogo said. “The schools also gave these children the opportunity to express their talent, thank you.”

He emphasized that the team’s success was not accidental but rather the result of deliberate and sustained efforts, supported by various football academies, clubs, schools, and families.

The FUFA president acknowledged the vital role of youth development programs established by the federation.

He highlighted initiatives such as the FUFA U-17 Juniors League, which has been instrumental in producing national team stars like Rogers Mato, Travis Mutyaba, Allan Okello, Gavin Kizito, etc.

He also mentioned the FUFA TV Cup, launched in 2023, and the Pan African Schools Championship, both of which provide platforms for talent in schools.

Further illustrating FUFA’s long-term vision, Magogo pointed to the double licensing system, which enables players under 21 to feature in multiple competitions accelerating their growth through consistent playing time. He also cited players like Joseph Langol, Lukyamuzi Ashraf, and Shakur Magogo as success stories from the federation's youth strategy.

Laying out FUFA’s broader ambitions, Magogo detailed components of the FUFA Technical Master Plan including deploying scouts across every district, implementing a web-based player tracking system, and working with the government to improve football infrastructure nationwide.

“FUFA has been strategic with its plans, and you cannot say we just got lucky,” Magogo emphasized. “Luck finds those who have a strategy and plans.”