Magogo’s Steady Leadership Innovated Over 14 Competitions Since 2013-Report

By Spy Uganda

Kampala: According to FUFA’s books,  FUFA has over the years created new competitions but with an eye on emphasis on excellence and quality output and as of now, it runs fourteen (14) Competitions and categorises them as Elite (Professional football) and Mass (Amateur football).

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The Professional Competitions comprise the 1 st Division (StarTimes Uganda Premier League) and 2 nd Division (StarTimes FUFA Big League) for men and the FUFA Women Super League.

FUFA Competitions in Numbers since 2013 –2020

Status of Competitions

FUFA’s Competitions for the season 2019/2020 were interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic but decisions were taken by the Executive to determine team rankings as per competitions rules.  

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Status Of The Competitions In The 2019/2020 Season; 

1. Vipers SC were declared champions of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League 
2. MYDA FC and UPDF FC sportingly promoted from the FUFA Big League to the StarTimes Uganda Premier League. 
3. Cancelled competitions; Stanbic Uganda Cup, The FUFA Drum,  Odilo (FUFA Primary Schools Football Championship), Women Regional Leagues, and FUFA Corporate Tournament
4. Declared null and void- FUFA U17 Juniors League, FUFA Women’s Cup, DFA Leagues (4th and 5th Division), Western and Kampala Women Regional Leagues

However, play-offs will be organised for;

• FUFA Big League
• Regional Leagues
• FUFA Women Elite League. 

StarTimes FUFA Big League (FBL) 

It was started in 2010 with 20 Clubs grouped regionally in two pools; Elgon and Rwenzori for ease of team participation. It later grew to 26 clubs but has been gradually reduced to 16 clubs to raise professionalism. Each season the FBL sends three newcomers to the Uganda Premier League. 

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The 2020/2021 FBL season will have a new format of play where three rounds instead of the usual two will be played.  

Regional & District Leagues 

• All the 8 Regions participated in the 3rd Division League 
• 173 clubs were licensed to participate in the League for the 2019/2020 season.
• 81 Districts, 666 clubs were licensed to play in the 4th Division League 2019/2020 season. 
• 46 Districts and 329 clubs featured in the 5th Division League 2019/2020 season. 

The FUFA Drum

The FUFA Drum was introduced in 2017 as another football tournament aimed at taking the game to the masses based on the 16 Provinces in Uganda while providing more playing time to local-based players. The tournament has registered increased support in the respective Provinces as it promotes ancestry, belonging and cultural identity. 

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The tournament has seen tremendous growth in terms of popularity, excitement, increased fan base and sponsorship. About 17,914 fans paid and watched matches in the first edition won by Buganda Province while 78,565 paid to catch the action in the 2nd edition won by Acholi Province. 

FUFA Women Competitions In Figures 

In 2013, FUFA was struggling to raise a National Women Team for future International engagements. There was nothing to write home about Women club football in Uganda.  

However, a decision was taken by the FUFA Executive to start the FUFA Women Elite League in a bid to create a pool of players for future selection to the various National Teams. 

The FWEL later turned out to be the genesis for the creation of other Women football competitions like the FUFA Super Women League, FUFA Women’s Cup and Regional Women Leagues. 

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Secondary Schools, Primary Schools, Universities, Tertiary institutions and other FUFA sanctioned competitions like the Mama Becca Cup and Independence Cup have been sources of players. 

Odilo-Primary Schools Football Championship 

In FUFA’s quest to implement its five-year strategic plan and develop football from the grassroots, a new U15 boy’s football tournament for primary schools was created in 2019. The first edition attracted 62 districts with 383 schools competing in the tournament. 

FUFA Club Licensing

Professionalism was lacking in top-flight football. FUFA devised means and adopted the FIFA Club Licensing tool which was shared with clubs in the Uganda Premier League and FUFA Big League. It was aimed at improving development and governance at the club level. The club licensing tool guides clubs on how to run their operations and make key decisions which increases professionalism.

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Many of the activities lined up for the 2020/2021 Club Licensing calendar have been fulfilled.  Some of the activities undertaken already this year include; amendment and release of the Club Licensing Regulations, Club Pro Agenda Programme, submission of documents by clubs to acquire licenses for the new season. The inspection of stadiums to be used is ongoing. FUFA is looking to extending the same programme to all League levels in the Country.