Gulu, Lira to host FUFA Drum tournament quarter finals

FUFA Drum 2019 quarter finals

Group A: Buganda, Acholi, Tooro, Bukedi – Gulu

Group B: West Nile, Lango, Busoga, Bugisu – Lira

The 2019 FUFA Drum tournament quarterfinals under the theme ‘celebrating our ancestry’ will be hosted in Gulu and Lira districts, FUFA has confirmed.

This was during the quarter final draws held at FUFA house, Mengo on Monday. The teams at the quarters will arrive on November 19 and the quarter final action will kick off two days later with the opening ceremony at Pece stadium, Gulu while the final will be played on November 30 at a yet to be confirmed venue.

Rogers Byamukama, the FUFA Drum organizing committee chairman, explained the changes in the playing format which aim at giving the tournament more coverage and excitement to the fans.

Rehma Nandita, a sports journalist, flashes the drawn team during the press conference (FUFA media)

“As FUFA, we are proud of the journey moved so far since the inception of the tournament last year. We have made changes in the playing format to bring about excitement and more coverage for the games. We thank FUFA and the government of Uganda for the amount of resources they have committed towards the Drum. We are optimistic that before the climax of this second edition, we will have a title sponsor on board,” noted Byamukama.

Unlike last season, where the provinces that advanced from the groups made it to the knockout phase, this time round, there was a preliminary group stage where eight teams qualified to the championship playoffs that will be played in Gulu and Lira districts.

Acting FUFA President, Justus Mugisha appreciated the reception that the people have given to the FUFA Drum. “The tournament has given people a sense of belonging. The cultural leaders have embraced it and rallied their subjects to support the teams. We thank government, FIFA and partners like NIC Holdings and Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and Nile Special who have offered financial support. Additionally, FUFA Drum has helped us realize that as a country, we do not have good facilities and the tournament has helped us engage government and other stakeholders to make a case,” noted Mugisha.

Ag. FUFA President Justus Mugisha draws Busoga province on Monday (FUFA media)

In the draws conducted, defending champions Buganda, last season’s runners up West Nile by virtue of reaching last year’s final, were seeded. Buganda was placed in group A along with Acholi, Bukede and Tooro while West Nile lead group B along with Lango, Busoga and Bugisu. Just as last season, the winner will get Shs30m cash prize.

How the teams qualified from the preliminary stage

Group A

Tooro- 10 points

Busoga – 10 points

Group B

Buganda -15 points

Lango- 10 points

Group C

Acholi -15 points

West Nile – 10 points

Group D

Bukedi -12 points