Africa-Press – Uganda. For those who have been following the Cecafa U-17 Challenge Cup that climaxed yesterday at the Umuganda Stadium in Rwanda, commentators kept leaving those new to the Uganda Cubs mystified. They continuously referred to a certain Travis Mutyaba, who was donning Uganda Cubs jersey No.10 ‘Messi’ whenever he was in possession. And no one just gets Lionel Messi comparisons without proving their worth.
Few sights in the sporting world beat that of the Argentine on the ball. Messi’s mastery of the beautiful game and ball tricks makes it almost impossible to defend against him. Mutyaba blessed viewers with a unique Messi-esque goal in the Cubs’ 3-1 over Tanzania in the Cup final.
Magic moment
With Uganda leading 1-0 and Tanzania still in the game, the left footed Vipers midfielder chose his moment of brilliance. Mutyaba got a loose ball under control a few yards outside Tanzania’s box, sent one defender to buy a hot dog, two kept up before he ran rings around them by going back and forth. And finally on facing goal he unleashed a low drive fierce shot off his left foot to the bottom right corner, catching Tanzanian custodian Abdallah Hamisi off guard.
Perhaps Hamisi got taken up with whatever Mutyaba was weaving with his delightful left foot, he could have thought he was in the comfort of his hotel room watching Messi before realising he had to collect the ball from the back of the net.
Mutyaba was not done for the game as he was fouled in the area for Juma Ibrahim to seal the win from the spot. Mutyaba who is also a student at St. Mary’s Secondary School Kitende was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, finishing with two goals. Earlier in the opening game of the tournament, he scored a beauty in the 5-0 annihilation of Kenya. Ugandan keeper Henry Mwebe scooped the Golden Gloves whereas Oscar Mawa was the Top Scorer.
UGANDA DOMINANCE
INDIVIDUAL MERIT Mutyaba was the MVP whereas Mawa (Top Scorer) and Mwebe (Golden Gloves) took the others.
