The evening of May 26th 2018 will see two European giants Real Madrid and Liverpool lock horns for UEFA Champions League glory in Kiev Ukraine. Football fans all over the world are eagerly waiting to see who will turn out victorious between Real Madrid from Spain and Liverpool from England after the UEFA Champions League final clash this Saturday. The two sides meet in this year’s final after eliminating Bayern Munich and AS Roma in the semi finals respectively. Although many may tip Madrid as slight favorites to win the silverware basing on their recent success in 2014, 2016 and 2017, Liverpool’s potential to upset the defending champions cannot be underestimated.

The Reds have had an impressive season both locally in the English Premier League where they finished fourth and their Egyptian star Mohammad Salah winning the golden boot with a record breaking 32 goals and in Europe upsetting some of the good sides like Manchester City and AS Roma to book their place in the Saturday final. Real Madrid will be looking to set a new record in the competition as the first side to win the trophy in three consecutive years breaking the one they set last year for retaining the title since the competition was initiated in 1992. Liverpool will be hoping to win their first European title since their impressive second half come back from three goals down in 2005 in Istanbul Turkey that saw them topple AC Milan on penalties to win the trophy after a 3-3 draw. Madrid who the most successful side in this competition with 12 titles are the defending champions after edging Italian side Juventus 4-1 in last year’s final and they will be looking forward to win their record 13th Champions League Trophy whereas Liverpool will be hunting for their sixth title.

The Saturday final will offer soccer fans something to talk about especially in a period when all the European top football leagues have closed and the world cup is still a couple of weeks away. It will definitely set the tempo for the world cup due to kick off in Russia on June 14th. This is because some of the highly awaited for stars that are expected to shine in this football greatest tournament are also going to feature in this Final. These include Portugal’s star Christiano Ronaldo, Brazil’s Marcelo and Casemiro, Spain’s Sergio Ramos and Germany’s Toni Kroos all in the Real Madrid squad. Liverpool’s world cup stars include Egyptian wonder boy Mohammad Sala, Senegal’s Saido Mane, Brazil’s Roberto Fermino and England’s Jordan Henderson among others.

This year’s final is going to be hosted in Olimpiyskiy National Stadium Sports Complex, Kiev, Ukraine with a European capacity of 68,000 seats. According to UEFA, the European football governing body, both clubs will be allocated 17000 tickets each with 6,700 tickets also made available last month for the public via the UEFA website. Serbian referee Milorad Mazic will be the main official for the match assisted by other three fellow Serbs while the fourth official will be from France.
Both teams are in a good shape with no big injuries to cause any panic and each side is expected to produce their best piece of football to become the 2018 European Champions.

HISTORY
For those who may want to press a bet on this clash, we believe this brief history of the matches between the two sides will guide you a bit.
Both teams have so far met five times in Europe with Liverpool more victorious than Madrid, winning three times and losing two. The last match between the two was in November 2014 and it ended in Madrid’s favor with a 1-0 victory. The last European final between the two giants happened way back in 1981 in Paris France leaving Liverpool champions after a 1-0 triumph. For both Madrid and Liverpool fans we wish you good luck and feel free to post your prediction and let’s see how accurate you will be at the end of the match.

Football is an interesting game which catch attention of many people especially the youth. Taking part in sports tourism is a good venture which keep you fresh, happy and lively always. Other interesting activities that can be enjoyed besides sports include gorilla tours in Rwanda and Uganda, mountain climbing, bird watching and cultural tours among others.

For arsenal fans in Uganda, we bring you the anxiety with in arsenal as the club awaits to appoint a new manager before the upcoming world cup. Following last month’s official announcement by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger that he will step down at the end of the season after nearly 22 years at the helm of the North London club, anxiety has continued to grow among all the stake holders at the club especially the fans about who the next manager could be. The 68 year old Frenchman who was appointed in the role in October 1996 finally came to a conclusion of his long tenure at Arsenal in April. This followed the club’s poor run of form since last season evidenced by the club’s failure to qualify for champions league football for the first time in more than 15 years. In addition to this frustration, Wenger has also endured constant criticism from Arsenal fans who have been coming to watch home matches with placards labeled “Wenger out”

Last week, the club’s chief executive Ivan Gazidis told reporters that the club is working hard to fix the gap by appointing a new manager before the world cup kicks off in Russia in June this year. It is understood that the club has a long shortlist of candidates to replace Wenger and among the front runners for the seat include former Barcelona coach Louis Enrique, Juventus coach Maxmilliano Allegri, Carlo Anchelotti, club legend Patrick Vierra and Mikel Arteta. Other candidates that make the list include Monaco coach Leonardo Jordim, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers and Germany coach Joachim Low.

It is reported that the club has already started negotiations with some of the potential candidates and Louis Enrique’s name has been mentioned in relation to this. Sources have it that various factors are at the forefront in these negotiations and the major ones include the club’s philosophy of football, transfer policy, manager’s salary among others.

Well, as anxiety continues to fill many hearts of Arsenal fans around the world about the next manager, its remained to be seen who the successful candidate out of this big list will be to take Arsenal to the next level. Meanwhile, Wenger received a warm send off at home last weekend as he was given a guard of honor by the players on the pitch before the match against Burnley in their last premier league home game this season that ended in a 5-0 home triumph. There was also a send off ceremony at the end of the match in which Wenger gave an emotional speech to mark the end of his glorious era at the club.

Mutai Wins Silver Medal in Marathon
The month of April 2018 called for celebration in Uganda the pearl of Africa after her own Solomon Mumyo Mutai won a silver medal in the athletic men’s marathon final during the 2018 gold commonwealth games at the south port Broadwater parklands venue on the gold coast. Our own Mutai finished second at 2:19:02 a few seconds after Michael shelly from Australia who finished at 2:16:46 making him the first runner. In addition to Mutai, Uganda also won the seventh and tenth position by Alex Chesakit and Robert Chemenges also represented Uganda in the seventh and tenth position respectively which really indicates a boom in Uganda’s sports industry. This was Mutai’s second win of the silver medal since 2015 when he first won a bronze medal in the marathon in 2015 IAAF championships in Beijing china. Also, this years victory come after 48 years since 1970 when Uganda last won a medal in marathon. If you did not know, sports game is one of the top things that feature Uganda as an exceptional destination. Uganda sports complement the popular gorilla tours done in Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga gorilla national park, game viewing safaris in the open savannh grassland national park, mountaineering safaris, bird watching tours and cultural visits which together make complete Uganda safari package fit to meet, satisfy and exceed every all travelers interests.

This year was unique in its own kind where out of the 23 athletes that represented Uganda in the marathon, four won medals in different games. Out of the 23 athletes that were qualified for the marathon, 4 athletes namely Thomas Ayeko, Winnie Nanyondo, Kacob kiplimo, and Juliet Chekwel all finishing at the top which performance has transformed Uganda to another step. All together, Uganda has a total of 6 silver medals, which have been won in different games. The silver medal winning came a day after Juma Miiro (Boxer)won a bronze a bronze medal in the 46-49kg-weight category which was the country’s second of the games.

Besides Mutai, Joshua kiprui Cheptegei is another blessing to the pearl of Africa. In the same month of April, Joshua won two gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m races which performance put Uganda on the world sports map. In the women’s sports, Stella Chesang was the first runner women’s 10,000m gold medal followed by Mercyline Chelangat who won a bronze medal in the same race. This year 69 athletes from Uganda have taken part in different sports activities which include track and field events, badminton, squash, boxing, rugby, netball, weightlifting, swimming, table tennis, cycling and shooting among other games.

Uganda has hit a comeback into the game by scoring this high since 1970 when the country last performed this best. In1970, the events took place in Edinburgh a hat trick of gold from boxers James Odwori (light flyweight), Mohammed Muruli (light welterweight) and Benson Masanda (heavyweight) capped a remarkable show that was complemented with here silvers from boxer Leo Rwabog (flyweight), Deorgratius Musoke (featherweight) and athlete William koskei.

Conclusively therefore, Uganda hopes to perform best in the coming years surpassing the 1970’s sport in Edinburgh and 2018 game in gold coast. The pearl of Africa is blessed indeed. Book a safari to Uganda, Take part in sports tourism, see the mountain gorillas and other tourism activities in different parts of the world rewarding you with a memorable life changing experience.

Are you a football fun? The long awaited FIFA world cup trophy has finally arrived in Uganda. Today 5th March 2018, Uganda marks the 33rd country to host the Federation International for football association (FIFA) world cup trophy since 1934 when it was started. After along time of waiting, Uganda football funs are now counting hours to have a close look at the worlds cup trophy. Upon arriving at the airport, the trophy is transferred straight to Entebbe state house to be received and acknowledged by the president in the company of the FUFA president Mr Moses Magogo and the sports cabinet minister Mr Charles Bakkabulindi among other professionals . Its on this note that the sitting president (H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni) is the only person to touch the trophy on behalf of all Ugandans. Sports is part of our daily happy life where people are commonly seen watching, and playing football in their leisure time. Sports are a love of all ages and sexes and are one of the leading industries in Uganda and all over the world attracting large audience. After its arrival today, the world cup trophy will be displayed for public viewing tomorrow-6th march 2018 at Lugogo Cricket oval.

Comprised of 18 karat gold, the world cup trophy is considered one of the world’s moving attractions which stand at 36.8 centimers high weighing 6.1 kilograms and a target for all FIFA member associations. Since its establishment FIFA has registered 211-member association all competing for this one trophy. The world cup is played every after four years held in different countries depending on the country’s security, the capacity of the play grounds and support and support of that particular country. During the time of world cup championship, expect to see almost all television channels and radios switched to football a clear indication of how lovely sports is to most people. Overtime, footfall has achieved great support proved by a big turn up of 3.2billion football viewers in 2014 hosted in Brazil. Tomorrow, 6th March 2018, a large number of Ugandans are expected to flock Lugogo cricket oval to have a special time within close to the iconic trophy. The world cup trophy has reached Uganda a few months to the final world cup championships to take place in June 2018 from Russia.
This year (2018) Kampala Uganda is one of the 91 cities in 51 countries with a golden opportunity to host the world cup trophy which transverses 92,000 miles roughly 126,000 kilometer. Uganda is one of the 10 lucky African countries to host the trophy.

Due to the great respect for the trophy, ordinary people are not allowed to touch or come so close to the trophy but rather the sitting presidents and former world cup winners are the only ones allowed to tough the trophy. For this case, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the president of Uganda is representing Uganda to tough the world cup trophy. The trophy is an eye for globe and was on 3rd March 2018 broadcasted by the Chinese TV and CGTN on their show flagship sports show and match print. Different questions where raised regarding this trophy (its distribution and when it was brought among others questions) and many people took part.

Whereas many people are eager to see the trophy, the question in mind is what next after the world cup trophy is gone? There is much value attached to the hosting of this honorable once every year event beyond mere seeing and photographs. Most important people accompany the world cup from different parts of the world hence an opportunity to boost tourism in Uganda. The hosting of the world cup is a marketing opportunity for Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) to broadcast and display all its potential in offering best tourism experiences such as the exceptional gorilla treks, cultural visits, mountaineering, bird watching and other unique features that make Uganda the Pearl of Africa. Sports are one of the most powerful ventures that attract high audience of all ages and sex. The late South Africa president nelson Mandela put back and supported the game in 1999 by putting back on the scene.

In addition to promoting tourism in Uganda, the world cup trophy is an inspiration for Uganda as a nation to invest more money, energy and time in football hence encouraging Ugandans to support and promote and involve in sporting culture. The hosting of the trophy is also an inspiration for the potential young footballers who are inspired by veneration and gratefulness of the trophy hence great support for the sports industry.

This therefore calls upon the government of Uganda and other private and public sectors to work hard and invest in winning the trophy, which comes along with other numerous benefits. Winning the world cup trophy should be Uganda’s ultimate goal if sports culture is to develop and expand in the country. Much investment is therefore needed to expand and renovate all infrastructures which all promote sports development in the country.
While addressing the congregation,HE the president of Uganda called upon Ugandans and other foreigners in the country to explore and enjoy all the hidden trasures that Uganda offers. The popular and must do activities in Uganda include taking part in a gorilla safari to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park of Mgahinga gorilla, wildlife viewing in Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest national park, cultural visits and mountain climbing among others. You can now book your safari to Uganda through any trusted tour operators offering related packages to meet and satisfy your travel needs.

Ugandans are how’re urged to be accurate and respectful in all ways.
In conclusion, rush to Lugogo cricket oval, have a close look at the world cup trophy and support sports tourism in Uganda the pearl of Africa.