Former Ugandan professional player David Obua has said Rogers Mato Kassim’s signing for Scottish Premiership side is a blessing to the player and Ugand.

The 22-year old winger finally signed for Hearts of Midlothian FC where Obua also featured several years ago.

“It is a good move for Mato and also for the country to have players going to certain kind of Leagues like Scotland because they are more competitive and aggressive.These a good times for Uganda once again,” Obua told Cecafaonline.

The former Uganda Cranes star player Obua played for Hearts FC 2008-2012.

Mato joins Hearts FC who are based in Edinburgh and are currently top of the Scottish Premiership, ahead of rivals Celtic FC by a few points.

The gifted Mato who is one of Uganda’s key strikers joined the Scottish side from North Macedonian club FK Vardar. Mato scored 12 goals in 13 games for FC Vardar before he traveled to join the Uganda national team in December for the Africa Cup of Nations.

“We are delighted to announce the signing of Rogers Mato,” said Hearts FC. The club head coach Derek McInnes said it was good that the Club signed Mato during this window. “He’s a livewire player, always looking to attack and cause the opposing defence problems,” said the coach on the club website.

Mato started his career featuring in the Youths set-up of Proline Academy and later graduated to play for Proline FC’s senior team and later KCCA FC before moving to the paid ranks.

In 2023 he moved to Turkish second Division side Şanlıurfaspor SC, and later Fudbalski Klub Akademija Pandev Brera Strumica in Macedonian.

Mato also scored a goal for Uganda in the 3-1 defeat to Nigeria in the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Morocco.

Ugandan forward John Paul Dembe netted a crucial equalizer to help his team BK Hacken qualify for the next round in the qualifiers of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night.

The 20-year old came on after 63 minutes and scored to make it 2-2 for his Swedish team to eliminate FC Spartak Ternava 3-2 on aggregate.

Early in the week Dembe who was top scorer in the CAF U-20 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Zonal qualifiers last year had also netted a brace for his team.

Dembe will return to action on July 24^th when his team faces Anderlecht in the next round of the UEFA Europa League qualifiers.

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) in collaboration with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have organised a successful Media Officers’ Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya.

Over twenty participants from 11 Member Associations in the CECAFA Zone participated in the 3-Day Workshop that concluded on Wednesday at the Swiss Lenana Mount Hotel.

Gen. Augustino Parek Maduot, the CECAFA Vice President urged all participants to take the knowledge gained and put it into action. “Let it influence your daily work. Let it raise the standards in your federations. Let it serve as an example for others. And let it be a stepping stone to even greater achievements in your careers,” added the guest of honour Maduot.

The guest of honour, also the President of the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) thanked CAF for all the support. “We extend our deepest gratitude for the support and partnership that made this workshop possible. To Football Kenya Federation, we say a heartfelt thank you for hosting the Workshop,” added Maduot.

The Workshop instructed by CAF Media Manager Charlotte Pelagie Eyoum, and CAF Consultant from Tunisia, Mondher Chaouachi was filled with a lot of engagement, discussions, interactions and practical sessions at the Nyayo Stadium.

Auka Gecheo, the CECAFA Executive Director thanked the instructors and the participants for the three days of intense learning and exchanging ideas. “We shall give the different media officers opportunity at some of our CECAFA tournaments,” said Gecheo.

The participants thanked CECAFA and CAF for putting together the Workshop which helped them learn new aspects. “We thank CECAFA and CAF for this opportunity,” said Phidaus Nakaweesi, from Uganda. Innocent Okama, from Tanzania was also full of praise for CECAFA and CAF pointing out that he has gained a lot from the Workshop.

Participants

Mutuyima Olivier Maurice, Sonia Isaro (Rwanda), Mohamed Hassan Said (Zanzibar), Stephen Mayamba, Phidaus Nakaweesi, Abdu Wasike (Uganda), Innocent Okama (Tanzania), Adanan Mohamed Sharif, Mohammed Abdi Muudey (Somalia), Abdella Mohamedali Abdela, Danayit Tesfaezgi Kifleyesus (Eritrea), Kadra Ahmed Toube, Farhan Elmi Farah (Djibouti), Samuel Pawan, Sarah Jacob (South Sudan), Willis Otieno, Gladys Onyango, Shon Osimbo, Jeff Kinyanjui (Kenya), Patrick Harakandi, Mohoro Nadege (Burundi), Atif Ahmed Mohamed (Sudan)

The President of the Fédération Djiboutienne de Football (FDF), Souleiman Hassan Waberi has said he very excited to become member of the FIFA Council 2025-2029.

Waberi, a former referee was among the six members elected to represent Africa during the elective CAF General Assembly held at the Marriot Mena House Hotel in Cairo, Egypt.

“First of all I want to thank my brother from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations and all delegates who voted for me to ensure I get to represent Africa on the FIFA Council,” said Waberi.

Waberi made it clear that it is a previlege to be voted to go serve the African continent on the FIFA Council and help play a role in shaping more growth in the continent.

“I am happy to become the first member from the CECAFA Zone to be elected to the FIFA Council and I promise to work hard together with the other elected members to keep pushing for Football development,” said the experienced Football administrator.

“This is more than a personal victory, it is a symbol for an entire nation, for Africa, for the CECAFA zone and for all those who believe in stronger, more united football.

I measure the magnitude of this responsibility and the honor I have been given. To those who believed in me, to the family, to the presidents of the federations, to FIFA and CAF, to the President of the Republic of Djibouti, to the First Lady, Ms. Aïcha Garad, to the football lovers and to all the Djiboutian people who supported me throughout this battle: Thank you,” added Waberi.

He made it clear that Africa is full of talent, ideas, energy, which must now turn this wealth into concrete opportunity. “My commitment is clear: to give our continent the place it deserves in the global football, to promote a more inclusive and ambitious sport,” he added.

The out-going CAF Third Vice President Waberi has been President of the Fédération Djiboutienne de Football (FDF) from 2012 until today. He made his ambition clear last year that he wanted to become a Member of the FIFA Council.

In 2017, he was elected as a member of the executive committee of CAF. He has also served as a member of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).

The other members elected today on the FIFA Council besides Waberi include; Hany Abo Rida (Egypt), Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco), Ahmed Ould Yahya (Mauritania), Djibrilla Hima Hamidou (Niger) and female representative Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros).