Sports fans in Jinja have welcomed the resolution by Jinja Municipal Council to rename Tobacco playground in Walukuba Masese, ‘Dhaira Football Ground’ after the fallen Uganda goalkeeper Abbey Dhaira.
In a special municipal council meeting held at the grounds chaired by the municipal speaker Abubaker Maganda Timuntu and Jinja Mayor Hajji Mohamed Baswari Kezaala, political leaders and civil servants unanimously agreed to change the name in respect and honor of Dhaira’s legacy in the Ugandan soccer.
Dhaira was born and raised in Walukuba. This was after his parents relocated from Kigandalo in Mayuge district to Jinja before Dhaira was born and this was his childhood training ground before being sported by clubs.
The proposal to rename the field in memory of Dhaira was submitted by Councillor Bernard Mbayo and unanimously supported by all other councillors.
However in his submission, the municipal mayor Kezaala challenged the leadership to also plan for the development of the ground into a ‘modern Dhaira stadium.’
“His legacy shall forever be remembered and this should be a challenge to young people to explore all their talents because we’re all gifted differently by God and you can never know what God has planned for you until you prove your worth,” said Kezaala.
The function was attended by numerous leaders including division chairpersons for Walukuba, Mohamed Kibugujo, Jinja central, Kirunda Mubarak and Mpumudde, William Ebusa that make up the municipality, Jinja East Municipality Member of Parliament Paul Mwiru and Jinja town clerk David Kyasanku among others.
Dhaira succumbed to cancer in Iceland.
Wycliffe Ofwono, a football fan in Jinja says that is the best way for the council to honour Dhaira.
Dhaira’s body being recieved by football players at Tobacco play ground in Jinja
“If they had given money, people would just fight for it and in no time, everything would be forgotten but naming the field after him means whoever will come to play from their will mention his name. I pray land grabbers in Jinja don’t partition the field into plots and later scramble for the same,” he said.
Kirunda Mubarak, the chairman Jinja Central Division says there is need to identify shinning stars in society for recognition before their death.
“If we had resolved to name this field Dhaira when he was still alive, he would have probably helped in sourcing for investors to develop it and feel the love and pride other than appreciating a dead body,” he said.
On Tuesday, the body was taken to the kingdom headquarters where a special sitting of Busoga Lukiiko chaired by the speaker George Mutyabule convened to pay tribute to the fallen gallant son.
Mutyabule urged youth to emulate the deceased by exploiting and marketing their potential.
Body laid for public viewing at Tobacco grounds