Padyere County secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Okoro County in the latest round of the Kopu P'Ubimo inter-county football tournament, despite playing much of the second half with ten men. The match, held on Saturday, 28th September 2024, at the Luo Playground in Nebbi Municipality, saw the defending champions maintain their unbeaten start to the competition.
Padyere took control early, with forward Womanya Henry opening the scoring in the first half. However, their momentum was disrupted when striker Emmanuel Agenonga received a second yellow card, leaving the team a man down for the majority of the second half. Despite the setback, Padyere displayed grit and determination, holding on to their lead and even doubling it before the final whistle.
This win marks Padyere’s first victory in the tournament after a 1-1 draw midweek against Jonam County. Head coach Gilbert Jakuma praised his team's resilience, particularly in light of their numerical disadvantage.
“My team worked hard to claim all three points because our table was reading red. You know, the match between Padyere and Okoro was like a litmus test for the champions because every county is working hard to break our records,” said Jakuma, whose side is the reigning champion from the 6th edition of the tournament.
For Okoro County, the defeat further dampens their hopes of progressing in this year's edition of the competition. After a disappointing 2-0 home loss to Jonam County in their opening fixture, Okoro now sits at the bottom of the table, yet to register a point or score a goal.
The Kopu P’Ubimo football tournament, held in partnership with MTN Uganda and Ker Alur, is a key part of the celebrations leading up to the 14th coronation anniversary of Phillips Ularker Rauni III. Four matches have been played so far in the 7th edition, and competition is heating up as counties vie for top honors.
MTN Uganda's Territory Sales Manager, Taban Godwin, commended the participants for their discipline and focus. “MTN is committed to amplifying business partnerships with communities in Alur land through networking and communications," said Godwin, reinforcing the company’s dedication to supporting local initiatives.
Meanwhile, the 3rd edition of the bicycle races, initially scheduled to take place alongside the football matches, has been postponed. Executive Director of the Alur Kingdom, Vincent Ochaya, confirmed that conflicting district activities hindered participant turnout, prompting the delay.
Kopu P'Ubimo Table Standings:
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonam | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2 | Padyere | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | Okoro | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
Upcoming Fixtures:
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Padyere vs Jonam – 5th October 2024
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Okoro vs Padyere – 12th October 2024
Okoro County will have to regroup quickly if they hope to salvage their campaign, while Padyere continues their title defense with confidence ahead of their next challenge.