The seventh edition of the Aliguma Foundation Banda Slums Soccer Tournament was like no other. Right from the onset on November 18th, 2022, the ever-growing tournament that brings together slum-dwellers communities from Kireka-Banda Zone, Nakawa Division, Naguru Ghetto and the close-by area codes of Mbuya and Luzira was a joy to behold.
The World Is Not Enough: A wet, soggy and slippery playing surface at the Acholi Quarters, who cares? The NBA Shooting Stars played body and soul and never held back with their celebrations. It was ecstatic. (Photo/Aliguma Foundation Media)
At least 50 teams put their feet forward and showed willingness to play and compete for honours. There was prize at stake, too! But there was no stopping the excitement that gripped the build-up and climaxing day.
It was a fitting finale and the seventh edition will go down as undoubtedly the biggest Slums Soccer Tourney in the country since its inception in 2017.
Big Boys in the building
Quick flashback; many boxes were ticked with two ministers; State Sports Minister Peter Ogwang and Minister of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Hillary Onek; who from what they saw pledged a combined UGX 5.5MILLION for the winners and runners-up in the main football final between NBA Shooting Stars and Nakawa Boyz committedly making their respective voyages to the Acholi Quarters Playground.
Sneak Peek: A video recap of the epic finale of everything that your naked eye could have missed at the Aliguma Foundation Banda Slums Soccer Tourney. (Video/Aliguma Foundation Media)
Ogwang went one better by promising to fundraise for an artificial turf for the dusty and bare community ground that receives spill-overs from a drainage channel, ‘if the land question’ can be solved. This was after he pledged UGX 3MILLION (UGX 2MILLION for the winners and UGX1MILLION for the runners-up in the Main Cup final.
Onek chipped in with UGX2.5MILLION and told the capacity crowd that they were more important than even those who watch matches at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
Worry not if you missed out; we have a video recap (above) and slideshow collection of the finest images (below) from everything at the meticulous seventh edition.
Pure Passion: A collection of breathtaking images from the grande finale at the seventh edition of the Aliguma Foundation Banda Slums Soccer Tourney that was primarily facilitated by Nigerian International Ola Aina of Torino FC. (Photos/Aliguma Foundation Media)