The return of MTN as Uganda Cranes’ headline sponsor has been welcomed in different ways but most especially the engagement of fans.

Fans are a huge part of the game but have not been engaged that much recently as admitted by FUFA president Moses Magogo.

“I think excitement and engagement with the fans is very important,” Magogo stated while speaking to the media at Serena Hotel on Wednesday.

“And I think that is the area where we have not done well in the recent past because fans love their teams irrespective of the results.”

“That is where MTN comes in because we know what football does as a passion and we also know how MTN treats football.”

“So for us, the combination is going to eventually get excitement to the fans, and just like they have said it is going to be all over the country, let’s just wait for the fruits,” he added.

In MTN’s initial reign as sponsors of the national team between 1999 and 2000, associating with the national tam was a cult.

The Mandela National Stadium, Namboole would be filled to the rafters whenever the Cranes were in action much as the Cranes never qualified for major tournaments.

Much as the Cranes’ following had gone down, under the outgoing sponsor Airtel, Uganda had a bit of improved performance to brag about; notably, qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations after 38 years in 2017 and later in 2019.

The wait is on to see if the old MTN days will return for the fans to come back to the stadia in huge numbers now that even COVID-19 is no longer a big threat.

MTN’s new marriage with FUFA is worth UGX19 B and will go towards supporting the Uganda Cranes, Crested Cranes, and FUFA competitions (Drum, Juniors League, Super 8, Super Cup, and Awards) for five years.