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David GOMBE
Kalema’s journey from the dusty playgrounds of Kiboga to the nationwide spotlight stands as considered one of many strongest testimonies to the transformative power of the the Airtel Masaza Cup.
Born and raised in Kiboga by Teopista Birungi and the late Ben Kimuli, Kalema’s soccer experience manifested at an early age. Curiously, he didn’t begin his career as a striker. Whereas in most important school, he joined a soccer academy the place he initially carried out as a left once more. Nonetheless, thought-about considered one of his coaches shortly acknowledged his attacking instincts and reworked him proper right into a forward, a selection that redefined his soccer career.
Kalema attended St. Andrews Principal College in Kiboga sooner than turning into a member of St. Paul Kyamutwe, popularly usually referred to as Rock Base. He later completed his most important education at St. Balikuddembe Principal College, a government-aided institution in Kyankwanzi District.
He later joined Kiboga United FC to play inside the FUFA Regional League, the place he scored 11 targets whereas nonetheless in Senior Two at Light Secondary College and later Vienna Secondary College. His effectivity caught the attention of Buddo Secondary College, 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 match. Assured in his youthful striker’s talent, he included Kalema inside the squad, an opportunity he utilized so correctly.
“I checked out this as an unlimited different, and I set myself a objective of scoring on the very least 4 targets inside the match. I surpassed my objective and scored 5 targets, contributing to Busiro’s first Masaza Cup title in 18 years,” Kalema remembers.
Following Busiro’s victory, Kalema moved to Mawokota for the 2023 model of the match. Although points didn’t go completely as deliberate, the crew managed a third-place finish.
The subsequent season, in 2024, he crossed to Buweekula County, the place he scored 4 targets and helped the crew protected one different bronze medal finish. His spectacular performances earned him a return to Buweekula for the 2025 model.
Understanding it might in all probability be his closing look inside the Masaza Cup, Kalema decided to depart an unforgettable mark on the match.
On the end of the opponents, he helped Buweekula win its first Masaza Cup title since 2004, emerged the match’s Most Helpful Participant, netted 7 targets and gained the Golden Boot.
Whereas Kalema centered on enhancing his ending talent, scouts from Kitara FC had already acknowledged him as a specific experience. His tempo, movement, and expertise to torment defenders made him not doable to ignore.
Shortly after the final word, Kalema signed a two-year contract with Kitara FC. Inside just some months of turning into a member of the membership, he scored the profitable purpose in opposition to Sports activities actions Membership Villa to protected Kitara’s second Stanbic Uganda Cup title in three years.
“I carried out my closing video video games for Buweekula whereas we had been already in talks with Kitara FC. By the purpose I accomplished the final word in opposition to Ssingo, my contract with Kitara was practically full,” he says.
Kalema reveals that his decision to hitch Kitara was largely influenced by the prospect of getting widespread having fun with time, an opportunity he says the membership has supplied. No matter curiosity from completely different prime golf gear, along with Categorical FC and URA FC, he believed Kitara provided the easiest environment for his growth.
He credit score the Masaza Cup for giving him the platform to shine and extra develop his experience.
“The Masaza Cup has not solely given me an opportunity to exhibit my experience, however it has moreover helped me improve by means of the steering from coaches and fellow avid gamers. I strongly think about the match continues to ship many youthful avid gamers into the spotlight, an identical to it did for me,” he says.
Kalema now wishes of representing the Uganda Cranes and at last securing educated switch abroad. He believes reaching these targets is only a matter of continued onerous work and persistence.
He advises youthful footballers to present consideration to rising their experience first in the event that they’re to go far in soccer.”My fellow avid gamers should work onerous and assemble their careers first instead of chasing money. You’re going to get money and it’ll get accomplished, nonetheless with out good effectivity, you can’t earn further of it,” he says.
Kalema’s success story is just one amongst many produced by the Airtel Masaza Cup. By the years, the opponents has nurtured fairly just a few avid gamers who’ve gone on to attribute in Uganda’s top-flight league, characterize the Uganda Cranes, and protected expert contracts abroad.
Totally different notable beneficiaries embody Hassan Mubiru of Butambala, who recently joined Azam FC in Tanzania from Sports activities actions Membership Villa, Yunus Ssentamu, Nicholas Kabonge, Emma Okwi, and Farouk Miya, who helped Mawokota win the Masaza Cup in 2013 sooner 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 experience enchancment is a key priority in Masaza match, which has given many avid gamers a chance to showcase their abilities sooner than occurring to fly the nationwide flag. He commends the opponents for empowering youth with priceless options whereas inspiring unity and progress.
“The Masaza Cup affords employment, builds unity and brings in earnings. It’s a real platform for experience and transformation,” Mayiga says.
David Birungi, the Supervisor, Communications and Firm at Airtel Uganda who’re the premium sponsors for the cup says the company’s 13-year sponsorship of the Masaza Cup has yielded necessary ends in experience enchancment.
“For the years Airtel has supported the Masaza Cup, we’ve acquired seen many gifted avid gamers progress to the nationwide crew {{and professional}} golf gear abroad. We keep devoted to investing inside the match to proceed producing experience that contributes to the growth of Ugandan soccer,” Birungi says.
Launched in 2004 and first gained by Gomba, the Masaza Cup continues to ascertain and nurture further youthful skills, empower youth, and promote cultural id and unity in Uganda and previous.
For Jimmy Kalema, the Airtel Masaza Cup was better than solely a opponents. It was the stage that reworked a gifted teen from Kiboga into thought-about considered one of Uganda’s brightest rising strikers, a sturdy reminder of what can happen when raw experience is given the prospect to shine.
