Today Monday 15th May 2023, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has launched an annual school football tournament known as FUFA Tv Cup, that will earmark the traditional secondary schools’ institutions in Uganda as the participants with its inaugural theme that states “EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS AND SPORTS”.
FUFA through its flagship brand FUFA Tv is set to organize and sponsor the invitational tournament for 8 schools that is expected to later on grow into a 16 -team nationwide competition. The FUFA Tv CUP is a competition that has been designed to give an opportunity to football players, referees and coaches at traditional secondary schools more re-known for academic excellence, to undertake football development in a safe, secure and technically managed environment without compromising academics.
Hon. Magogo Moses and some members of the FUFA Excom led by 2nd Vice President Darius Mugoye together with a section of secretariat staff held a meeting with representative of the 8 schools that have been identified and invited to take part in the inaugural tournament which include; Kiira College Butiki, Busoga College Mwiri, Jinja College, Namilyango College, St Mary’s College Kisubi, Makerere College School, Kings College Budo and Mengo Senior School.
“As a federation our vision is to be the number one footballing nation in Africa on and off the field and we can achieve this by developing, promoting and protecting the game. We believe we can achieve this by collaborating with schools because they have the students, nice pitches, teachers among other.” FUFA President remarked after the meeting.
‘We believe by putting football in these schools we can get players who may develop into future national stars, referees who may go and officiate at the highest levels like the World Cup, very good coaches and of course fans because these games going to be played in schools and teams will be supported by their colleagues.” He added.
Upon accepting the invite and consequently agreeing to participate in the FUFA Tv Cup, the selected schools will be expected comply with the tournament rules, ensure discipline and compliance of their students, involve the old students in the activities of the competition, provide students or teachers or staff to be trained and appointed as coaches, referees or media officers, prepare and avail their school pitches in accordance with the laws of the game.
Most importantly schools will be expected to prepare, organize and present their teams to play.
On the other hand, FUFA will do the over all planning, supervision, management and execution of all operations of the inaugural tournament. Additionally, FUFA will also train four (4) young enthusiastic persons as nominated by the schools as young coaches, match referees and digital media officers.
Games to be live on FUFA TV
The FUFA President also revealed that FUFA through FUFA Tv will broadcast live the games of this schools’ tournament to a worldwide audience.
“The games will be on tv meaning parents, old boys and girls plus well wishers of these schools will be able to watch and support from wherever they will be able to access them. Nothing gives joy to a parent than watching their child do a good thing and they are able to witness and support. As a federation we are going to invest a lot of energy as it wont cost us less than Ugshs 80 million but we have tasked our marketing department to look for this money. Hopefully the tournament will grow to generate its own funds. I therefor call upon all parents and all Ugandans out there to support this competition like you have done for other FUFA programmes that have turned out to be success stories.”
FUFA will also be responsible for providing cash prizes to the different winners on top of the different medal categories and trophies for the respective winners. This will be in addition to providing uniforms to the participating schools and match officials for the games branded with FUFA Tv.
The organising committee of 9 persons will be drawn from people that will be recommended by the participating schools from among their own teachers, students, non-teaching staff, parents and old students of the schools among others.
