A total of 68 Secondary School football teams have camped in Mvara Secondary School in Arua City to tussle it out in the 2022 Secondary Schools Football tournament. The tournament kicked off today.
The national football tournament returns after two years of absence due to the interruption of COVID-19. kicked off this morning.
According to the organisers, the matches will be played at Mvara Secondary School, NTC Muni, St. Mary’s Ediofe Girls’ SS, Arua Police ground, Arua Core PTC, Green Light stadium Onduparaka, Arua public primary school among others.
The teams have been placed in eight groups and the best two teams from each group will progress to the knock out stage.
James Mawa, the organising secretary of the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) says the tournament has kicked off well without minimal challenges across the designated venues hosting the games. He says the tournament will run for ten days.
In the meantime, the Arua city security authorities have cautioned the participating schools and local residents against acts of violence and hooliganism during the tournament.
West Nile region Police spokesperson,Josephine Angucia notes that they will not hesitate to arrest any person found engaging in acts of hooliganism during the tournament.
According to the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA), this year’s event is not sponsored by Coca Cola company after the beverage company didnot renew sponsorship.
The reigning champions St. Mary’s Kitende SS kick started their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Ikik Secondary School in a match played this morning at Arua Core PTC ground, Mvara.