As the new football season 2019/20 gets underway this month with the second edition of the Pilsner Super 8 tournament due July 24-August 24, URA FC Coach Sam Ssimbwa said that the tournament will help him shape his team if the organisers stick to the competition rules.
“At least a club will play 3 games unlike the knockout format last year. We shall compete for the title whilst setting up the team for the season,” noted Ssimbwa.
The top 6 Premier League and top two FUFA Big League clubs from last season will battle for the first trophy of the season in a competition that returns with a new format.
The teams will play 3 games each and get ranked from the first to eighth at the end of the precursor tournament to the new Uganda Premier League scheduled to kick off on August 31.
Prize money has also been more than doubled from Shs30m to Shs68m this season. The winners have Shs20m at stake, Shs12m for runners up, Shs10m for third placed and Shs8m for the fourth. The fifth to eighth ranked teams will get Shs6m, Shs5m, Shs4m and Shs3m respectively.
The eight teams in the tournament are; Wakiso Giants, KCCA, Onduparaka, Tooro United, Mbarara City, URA, Proline and Vipers SC.
The competition dates will be released by FUFA in the due course. However, in the new format, bottom ranked team hosts in the first round of the tournament while in the second round (semi-finals), the higher ranked team hosts. Where both teams in the second round were visitors/hosts, a draw will be conducted to determine the host team.
URA have signed Brian Majwega (Maroons), Anwar Ntege (Ndejje University), Hassan Kalega (Police), Ivan Ntege (free agent), John Ssemazzi (free agent), Ashraf Mandela (SC Villa), Mikidad Ssenyonga and Ivan Sserubiri (free agents) for three years while Patrick Mbowa and Shafik Kagimu have also penned contract extensions for three and two years respectively.
Pilsner Super 8 Opening fixtures:
Wakiso Giants vs KCCA FC
Onduparaka vs Tooro United FC
Mbarara City vs URA FC
Proline vs Vipers SC
