Kampala, Uganda: The FUFA TV Cup has entered a new era with the 2025 edition expanded to 16 teams, a move organisers say will deepen the tournament’s impact in linking academics with football development.
Dr. Apolo Ahimbisibwe, the chairperson of the organising committee, said the expansion was deliberate to give more schools exposure while keeping the tournament’s academic-sporting balance intact.
“This competition is about bringing football into academic institutions. Many parents stop their children from playing because they think it interferes with studies, yet we have players who excel in class and also earn government sponsorship at university,” Dr. Ahimbisibwe explained.
He emphasised that football and academics complement each other. “Excellent students in class can become excellent players because football also involves the use of the brain,” he said.
The FUFA TV Cup has increasingly attracted alumni who remain actively engaged, strengthening the tournament’s popularity with each edition.
This year’s finals will be staged at a venue chosen for its top-class infrastructure, accommodation, and logistical advantages. “It has one of the best grounds in the country. We wanted a place that will make the finals memorable for the participants,” Dr. Ahimbisibwe noted.
Looking ahead, he hinted that future editions could rotate across FUFA football regions to ensure nationwide participation. “Probably next time it will be in Western Uganda or another region,” he revealed.
This year’s “Showdown 16” format divides the 16 schools into four groups, with teams that fall short of qualification set to play in classification matches to guarantee more playing time.
FUFA TV 2025 Groups
Group A: St. Joseph’s College Layibi, Kako SSS, Muntuyera High School, St. Charles Lwanga Kasasa
Group B: Nabumali High School, Mpanga SSS, Duhaga SS, Jinja College
Group C: St. Mary’s College Kisubi, Dr. Obote College, Boroboro, Ngora High School, Mengo Senior School
Group D: Jinja SSS, St. Charles Lwanga College, Koboko, Mbale SS, Kibuli SS
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