2015/16 FUFA JUNIORS LEAGUE: Kick off – Mid September 2015
Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) competitions director, Ali Mwebe has re-affirmed the official stand for having the national U-17 youth league set up dubbed ‘The FUFA Juniors League’.
The main purpose among others for having the FUFA Juniors league is to promote and develop the young talents. Healthy competition arises as a desire to excel but the key element why FUFA started this league was to develop and nurture talents
Mwebe made the remarks as he supervised the draws for the second edition of the FUFA Juniors league at the Federation head quarters during the weekly press conference on Wednesday.
For the record, FUFA started the league, the first of its nature in Uganda’s football circles in January 2015.
During the inaugural edition won by Kampala Junior Team (KJT), the federation gave a chance to all the premier league to register their teams as a pilot project for the subsequent season (2015/16) where entry of the junior side was mandatory for each and every club in the Azam Uganda Premier League to acquire a valid license for the season.
This season’s league has a total of 24 teams.
The 16 youth teams attached to the Azam Uganda Premier League sides are divided into two groups of 8 teams apiece and the founder teams have been maintained still in their two groups – Nile and Murchison.
The youth teams are envisaged as a feeder to the senior teams and the national Under age teams as well.
In addition to the FUFA Juniors league, the federation is deeply engaged in the several programmes that are streamlined to promote youth football structures.
FUFA is in partnership with Airtel Uganda to run the Airtel Rising Stars girls and boys U-17 football programme that has now aged to 5 solid editions.
The FIFA Grassroots football development programme for young girls between 6 to 18 has continued to take shape after successful campaigns in most parts of the central region before the programme will spread over to the other regions of the country.
In addition, FUFA has recently initiated the football schools of excellence (SOE) with particular collaboration with selected Government run schools.
The federation has always kept a keen eye on the Copa Coca Cola football championships where they provide the referees and special scouts to monitor the excelling youngsters.
All the aforementioned programmes are meant to rhyme with the gist of a successful footballing nation – the youth system.
The 2015/16 FUFA Juniors League Groups and Teams:
Group 1: Lweza Juniors Academy, BUL football club academy, Sports Club Victoria University Academy, Jinja Municipal Council Hippos Academy, Express Junior Team, Police Harmless Bridage, URA Juniors Team, Bright Stars Junior
Group 2: Maroons Junior Team, SC Villa Jogoo, Soana Soccer Academy, Vipers Junior Team, Sadolin Paints Junior Team, KCCA Academy, Simba F.C Academy
Non Premier League Youth Teams:
Nile Group:
Super Cubs, Jeff Soccer Academy, Kayda, Kampala Juniors Team
Murchison Group:
Standard High School Academy, Edgars Youth Academy, Life Eternal, Synergy
MAIN PHOTO: FUFA Competitions Director, Ali Mwebe addressing the media
PHOTO CREDITS: FUFA Communications Department