By Aloysius Byamukama
Overview
The five day event and the 3rd edition that kicks off on Tuesday at St Mary’s Stadium Kitende has attracted nine U-15 teams across the CECAFA region.
Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) champions St Noa and St Mary’s Boarding School Kitende, are readily gracing the CAF African Schools Football Championship – CECAFA Zone.
The five day event and the 3rd edition that kicks off on Tuesday at St Mary’s Stadium Kitende has attracted nine U15 teams across the CECAFA region. The teams include;
Boys – Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, Somalia
Girls – Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi
USSSA girls U-15 winners St. Noa alongside the boys champions and now hosts St Mary’s Kitende, will be vying for the coveted accolade alongside the hefty cash prize that comes along with the winners.
The CAF African Schools Football Championship is supported by the Motsepe Foundation with partnership between CAF, African Governments, Member Associations and Schools.
Winners of both the Boys’ and Girls’ competition pocket USD 300 000 prize money each, runners-up each receive USD 200 000, while the bronze medallists take home USD 150 000, courtesy of CAF’s partnership with the Motsepe Foundation to be utilised for development projects within schools.
Last year, Uganda representatives Kawempe Muslim managed to win third place and a cash prize of 150,000 US dollars with South Africa winning the girls’ gold after beating Tanzania with Morocco beating Guinea for the Boys’ gold and the top cash prize.
Yusuf Mossi, the Competitions Director of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has explained that each of the categories will play the League format and that the team with more points in each category will be the champions to represent the Zone at the CAF African Schools Football Championship Finals set to take place next year at a venue to be named.
Besides action on the pitch, CAF has also organized several workshops to run alongside the tournament including; Coaching Programme, Young Referees Programme, Young Reporters Programme, and Safeguarding.