Uganda’s representatives at the upcoming CAF U17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) pilot project CECAFA zone, Boni Consilii, are exploring all possible options to ensure thorough preparation ahead of the event scheduled for January 5-18, 2025, in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
The Isingiro-based team has been training at Old Kampala SS since December 15th to familiarize the players with different playing surfaces, including grass and artificial turf, as the championship’s surface is yet to be confirmed.
To enhance their preparation, the team management is considering requesting access to Nakivubo, which is near their residential camp and meets the required standards, as they prepare to depart for Tanzania on January 3rd.
“We are still exploring this option to ensure complete preparation, and we hope to be granted at least an hour or two, despite the facility’s busy schedule,” said team coordinator Primus Ngabirano.
In addition to hosting the two-week-long CECAFA U17 boys championship that concluded on Friday, Nakivubo is also a training facility and the venue for the CHAN qualifier second leg between Uganda and Burundi on Sunday.
The newly renovated Nakivubo also serves as the home ground for Uganda Premier League side Express FC, which will be using the facility after these fixtures.
The response to Boni Consilii’s request will depend on the facility’s schedule, especially after the CHAN qualifier. If granted, it will significantly boost the team’s preparations, particularly since some players have never played on artificial turf.
The GIFT tournament is the first of its kind organized by CAF to develop girls’ football on the continent, with teams/clubs competing in the six CAF regions before a grand finale of the successful teams later this year.
Boni Consilii earned the ticket to represent Uganda by winning the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) national U16 girls’ football championship, defeating Kawempe Moslem 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final held in September in Soroti.
USSSA has pledged to support the team with accommodation, meals, transport to and from Tanzania, and an allowance of $100 for each of the 20 players and 2 officials.
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