FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo says that FUFA’s strategy to achieve its vision of becoming the number one football nation in Africa; on and off the field has no short cut, but only following the procedures laid down for developing grassroots football.
Magogo made the remarks while launching FUFA’s primary schools championship dubbed ‘Odilo’ on Wednesday at the FUFA House, Mengo. According to Magogo, the new football tournament is in line with the federation’s five-year strategic plan to develop football at the grassroots level.
Odilo means a ball in the Alur and Luo Communities and the FUFA head believes the tournament creates a new category of U15 players that FUFA can track.
“Top clubs in Europe can only recruit players at the age of seventeen to prepare them for the bigger stage in their academies. Uganda is endowed with plenty of talent which is diverse. The new Championship unveiled is looking at the categorisation of the players below the age of thirteen years,” explained Magogo.
Aggrey David Kibenge, the Under Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports, who was the chief guest at the launch, applauded FUFA for such a wonderful football product which is a game changer.
“I would like to congratulate FUFA and Eng. Moses Magogo for all the milestones achieved. It is a project that was overdue. Such competitions have values attached to them but need technical expertise which FUFA provides. We shall engage all stakeholders to take part and I the Ministry will support this competition,” noted Kibenge.
The tournament registration is on at FUFA Regional offices and 400 primary schools have already confirmed participation with registration deadline due May 15, 2019.
The qualification starts at the district level on May 5 this year at the district level and the district winners will play at the eight regional finals.
The national finals will be played by the 8 Regional Primary Schools Winners at the FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru. FUFA 1st Vice President Justus Mugisha and 2nd Vice President Darius Mugoye will head the organising committee as head and assistant respectively.
Hajji Abdu Sekabira Lukooya, John Bosco Masiko, Farouk Kigongo and one representative from the Ministry of Education and Sports will be the other members on the committee.
