With the 2023 FUFA Drum around the corner, the FUFA Executive has invented and approved a new playing format.
The tournament, which has in the past attracted mammoth crowds, is played by 16 Provinces, but has now attracted changes.
“Whereas there had been a desire to play the FUFA Drum in the original version with 61 matches being played but this won’t be the case,” said FUFA Deputy CEO-Football, Decolas Kizza.
Starting this year, last edition’s best eight performing provinces; “will get straight byes to the next round, and won’t sweat in the first.”
In a move to join the best eight, the right lowly ranked teams will be; “randomly paired to play home and away,” the communication confirmed.
The four winners on aggregate at this stage, will then; “join the best eight that received byes to make 12 province teams.”
“The 12 Province teams will be seeded according to performance into three pots and a draw will be conducted to have four groups of 3 teams each.”
The drum final will be a single-game affair.
Teams in each Group will then play each other on a home and away basis (24 matches).
From here, the best two teams in each Group will progress to the quarter-finals (A1 v B2, B1 v A2, C1 v D2, D1 v C2) on home and away.
Winners will progress to the semifinals to be played home and away while the losers will play for third place classification game.
The victors from the last four will play for the top prize in a single match affair, unlike in the past edition where the final had two legs.
West Nile province is the defending champion, while Acholi and Buganda won it in the previous editions for 2018 and 2019, respectively.
The competition wasn’t held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and its effects.
Courtesy Photos
