A new baby is born. In FUFA’s quest to implement its five year strategic plan to develop football from the grassroot level, a new boys’ football tournament for Primary Schools in Uganda has been created by the local soccer governing body.
L-R; Grace Abalo, FUFA President, Aggrey Kibenge and 2nd FUFA President Darius Mugoye
The Championship is code-named Odilo – meaning a ball in the Alur and Luo communities.
At a fully packed press conference at FUFA House in Mengo on Wednesday morning, the official launch was performed by the Under Secretary Ministry of Education and Sports Aggrey David Kibenge, who was Chief Guest, together with the FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo.
The Official FUFA Primary Schools Championship ‘Odilo’ Logo
FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo
Magogo noted that it is the federation’s strategy to achieve its Vision of becoming the number one football nation in Africa on and off the field.
‘We can only achieve our vision by following procedures laid down for developing grassroots football. There is no shortcut to football development. We take responsibility to create the category of U15 so that we can track these players. The top clubs in Europe can only recruit players at the age of 17 to take them to the academies and prepare them for the bigger stage.
‘Uganda is endowed with plenty of talent which is diverse. The new Championship unveiled today is looking at the categorisation of the players below the age of thirteen years,’ the FUFA boss observed.
FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo while addressing the media at FUFA House, Mengo
Under Secretary Ministry of Education and Sports Aggrey David Kibenge
Kibenge expressed his delight to witness the ceremony and applauded FUFA under Magogo’s leadership for the milestones achieved so far in Ugandan football during his tenure so far.
‘I thank God for this morning of unveiling such a wonderful football product. It is a game changer. I would like to congratulate FUFA and Eng. Moses Magogo for the vision to Ugandan football and all the milestones achieved. It is a project that was overdue. I am glad that FUFA will take the lead charge in the competitions and technical expertise will be applied. Such competitions have values attached to them but need technical expertise which FUFA provides. We shall engage all stakeholders to take part and I speak with authority that the Ministry will support these competitions.’
Aggrey David Kibenge while addressing the media at FUFA House, Mengo
National Council of Sports –Ivan Niwamanya
Ivan Niwamanya from local sports regulators National Council of Sports (NCS) said that grassroots football is the way to go.
‘We must tap the talent at this level to get the best results. If we don’t start with the grassroots, we should expect little or nothing’
Ivan Niwamanya addressing the media during the launch of the championship
Playing format, registration
Registration is in progress at the FUFA Regional offices and 400 primary schools have already confirmed participation. Deadline for registration is Wednesday 15th May 2019. The Qualification process will start with matches at the district level to determine District Winners who will play at the Regional Finals.
The Championship will kick off 5th June 2019 at various grounds to determine District Champions before they feature at the Regional level.
FUFA Primary Schools National Finals
The National Finals will be played by the eight Regional Primary Schools Winners at the FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru.
Organising Committee formed
A committee to be headed by FUFA 1st Vice President Justus Mugisha will be in charge of the championship. It also has the 2nd Vice President at FUFA Darius Mugoye, Hajji Abdu Sekabira Lukooya, John Bosco Masiko, Farouk Kigongo and one representative from the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Group photo after the launch of the championship at FUFA House, Mengo
The launch ceremony was also witnessed by FUFA 2nd Vice President Darius Mugoye, Executive Member Hamid Juma (Chairman of FUFA Competitions Committee), Grace Abalo (Senior Education officer-Department of Physical Education and Sports), Pollbert Agobe (Principal Education Officer-Department of Basic Education-Primary Schools), Ivan Niwamanya (National Council of Sports, who represented General Secretary Dr. Patrick Ogwel), Uganda Youth Football Association Delegates to the FUFA Assembly John Bosco Masiko and Farouk Kigongo.
MAIN PHOTO: FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo and Guest of Honour -Under Secretary Ministry of Education and Sports Aggrey David Kibenge holding the placard of the Odilo logo at the launch of the FUFA Primary Schools Championship. The fucntion was held at FUFA House in Mengo on Wednesday morning.
