Federation of Uganda Football Associations _ FUFA confirmed that the dream of having an African football continental championship for schools as pledged by the CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe in his manifesto and program for the youth and grassroots football is now a reality.

FUFA revealed this on Wednesday. 13. July. 2022 as they confirmed that Ugandan 20 schools have been selected to take part in the in inaugural CAF African Schools Championship but this will be at national level.

The Programme that is the backbone of this championship was launched earlier this year with 41 Member Associations of CAF taking part.

While speaking to the media at the launch of the Championship, the Uganda edition at FUFA House, Mengo on Wednesday, FUFA 1st Vice President Justus Mugisha said that the ultimate goal of CAF is to have in place a standard continental grassroots championship to help improve football from an early age as a way of producing more skilled players and playing more competitive  in relation to other continents that already have such programs.

“The CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe understands the importance of Grassroot football and he thought it wise through the Motsepe Foundation to have this Programme spreading across Africa," Mugisha noted.

“Grassroot football especially in Africa is within schools. Therefore, this particular intervention will help to create an organized platform for players at a young age.

"The CAF President realized that there is need to work on youth football right away from School if we want to grow football. 

"Over 95 % of youth are in school and in Africa there's Lack of organized school and young age competitions as compared to other performing continents. The completions are many but not organized to the standards. So the ideal of this championship as addressed in the manifesto of the CAF president is to make Africa more competitive at the world stage," Mugisha added.

St. Herny's College Kitovu was one of the selected schools to take part in the championship but declined to take the offer which was later advanced to Mukono Kings High School.

The other schools include:
St. Mary’s SS, Kitende, Buddo SS, Standard High School- Zzana,Teso College Aloet, Amus College, Kibuli SS, Jinja SSS, Dynamic SS and Royal Giant School in the boys category.

In the girls category the like Kawempe Muslim SS, Uganda Martyrs High School- Lubaga, Rines SS, Jinja SS, Wakiso Hill SS, King of Kings SS - Fort Portal, Tagy High School, Gadhafi Integrated Academy, Olila High School and Royal College Namugongo will take part.

The championship is expected to kick off on 16th. July. 2022 for the boy and 21st. July. 2022 for the girls and all the games will be played at the FUFA Technical Center, Njeru.

FUFA Deputy CEO-Football, Decolas Kiiza explained on how the participating teams were selected.

"The selection was based on the schools' performance in recent schools championships organised by Uganda Senior Secondary Schools Association _ USSSA," Kiiza stated 

“FUFA based on performance of schools in recent USSSA Games to come up with the final list. St. Henry’s College Kitovu withdrew because of preparation for their 100 years of existence celebrations and were replaced by Mukono Kings High School," he added.

Joseph Opio, who represented the Ministry of Education and Sports; department of Physical education was delighted by the development and promised maximum co-operation and support from the ministry.

"This is a timely intervation and a right step in nurturing talents," Opio noted.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Education and Sports, I would like to extend sincere appreciation to FUFA and CAF for this initiative.

"As the ministry, we are hopeful that this championship will be a bleeding stock for future stars through offering a bigger platform to expose players at a young age and thus making them better football products," he said.

The National Championship in Uganda will be staged between 15th -24th July at FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru.

The participating schools are expected to have a minimum of 15 players and 5 officials; with the Head Coach being a CAF B holder.

However, the continental championship is only open to players between the ages of 12-15 years; born between 1st Jan 2008 – 31st December 2011.

The playing format in this championship shall see teams divided into two groups of 5 teams each; play on a half - pitch size with 8 players each in a game of two halves, each lasting 20 minutes; and a 10-minutes interval.

The teams will also have the liberty to use any number of substitutions.

The teams that will finish on top from each group after a round robin format will advance to the final.

At the end of it all, the champions in both categories will represent Uganda at the CECAFA zone African Schools Championship that will be hosted by Uganda in December at a later date that will be confirmed and communication by FUFA after consultations with CECAFA.

The winners of the Zonal Qualifiers will then advance to the CAF African Schools Championship that will take place in March next year on the dates that are yet to be fixed by CAF.

Story by Joseph Mary Ssempiira and Jjuuko Alan Joel Sewankambo www.sportznow.ug Writers.