A football friendship that began in 2020 at a club far away from East Africa continues to inspire unity across the region through the beautiful game.
Ugandan international and West Nile player Mustafa Kizza and Kenyan legend Victor Wanyama have maintained a close bond over the years, transforming their friendship into an initiative that celebrates football while giving back to the community. Alongside McDonald Mariga the Vice President Football Kenya Federation , the trio is strengthening ties between Uganda and Kenya both on and off the pitch.
Mustafa kizza and Victor Wanyama at MontrealMonths ago, during an interview with Ugandan football journalist Peter Tabu on Pitchside, Kizza revealed plans for exhibition matches involving his friends and those of Victor Wanyama and McDonald Mariga. Those plans have since become a reality.
Last month, Mustafa Kizza and his friends travelled to Kenya, where they played an exhibition match at Nyayo National Stadium and joined Wanyama, Mariga and their friends in giving back to the Kenyan community.
Kizza also received strong support from his club, Nairobi United, which provided the team bus to facilitate the event and used its social media platforms to create awareness and rally support for the initiative. The club's involvement highlighted its commitment to backing players in community-driven activities beyond competitive football.
Before travelling to Kenya, Kizza's team prepared through friendly matches against Friends of Rogers Mato and Friends of Travis Mutyaba, building momentum ahead of the cross-border encounter.
The football family now shifts its attention to Uganda, where the return leg is set to take place on 9th July 2026 at MTN Omondi Stadium. All proceeds from the match will go towards supporting former KCCA FC head coach Mike Mutebi, the coach who handed Mustafa Kizza his senior debut and played a vital role in his development.
The match will also reunite Kizza with familiar faces from his KCCA days, including Allan Okello, while Victor Wanyama and McDonald Mariga are expected to feature in the fundraising encounter.
Kizza Mustafa and Allan Okello during the charity match press conference
More than just a football match, the event celebrates friendship, gratitude and the power of sport to unite East Africans while honouring those who have shaped the careers of some of the region's finest footballers.
