Since time immemorial, rugby has been known to run in the veins of Traditional schools in Uganda.
The old order
Traditional giants like Kings College Budo and Namilyango College have achieved generational success and dominance in the sport.
If you attended a rugby game, at least 7 out of every 10 people you’d encounter went to a traditional school. Rugby has most of these schools at a chokehold; in some, it’s believed to be a religion.
Uganda Rugby Union had carved out a niche no one could match with these schools. However, the tides have ferociously changed, with a new player in the game.
On Monday 15th May 2023, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) launched an annual school football tournament known as FUFA Tv Cup, targeting the traditional secondary schools in Uganda themed under “EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS AND SPORTS”.
FUFA’s well calculated plan
The inaugural season features 8 schools that have been identified and invited to take part in the tournament.
These include; Kiira College Butiki, Busoga College Mwiri, Jinja College, Namilyango College, St Mary’s College Kisubi, Makerere College School, King’s College Budo, and Mengo Senior School.
FUFA is very intentional about the continuity of this tournament and the growth of soccer in these schools with several strategies in place to foster that.
For example, each school nominates 4 young enthusiastic students to be trained by FUFA as young Coaches, Match Referees, and Digital Media Officers.
This benefits schools in other football/sports programs and also individually open youngsters to mainstream services.
Coverage of FUFA Tv Cup vs Central Schools 7s
The competition is not only being televised but also getting a fair share of media coverage, a big one for a baby project.
If you searched for “FUFA TV cup” in your browser, you’d be amazed by the traffic and numerous online information about the competition.
On the other hand, the Central Schools 7s series is already ongoing, but I bet you didn’t know that. With close to non-existent coverage, URU has made it an uphill battle for several media houses to stream these games.
FUFA has an in-house media service with FUFA TV, one would hope URU, running on a tight budget, would have bestowed wings upon aspiring media houses, allowing them to soar effortlessly in their quest to cover school games.
However, they’ve just clouded the path, setting unrealistic demands, which have driven some media houses out of business.
When the FUFA Tv Cup was launched, there was an online uproar with people questioning why the FUFA didn’t target the existing school soccer giants.
Well, it’s clear they’re out to conquer new waters, and if they keep up with this for the next 5 years, rugby will become a feather in the wind in the traditional schools.
Courtesy Photos
