Private Schools League returns with 18 matches

Uganda's largest private schools league, featuring nearly 28 schools and 10,000 children from across Wakiso, Mukono, and Kampala, returns on Saturday with 18 matches on the card.

The Private Schools League (PSL) kicks off with defending champions Seeta Junior School taking on The Stoneridge School at Seeta Junior School ground in Mukono.

The league organized by Uganda Juniors League (UJL) has schools grouped into four regions: the Western Region having Gombe Junior School, Seeta Junior, Twinbrook, Gayaza, Bright Horizon, and Rapha School; the Eastern Region having Daffodils International School, St. Agnes Primary, Landmark School, Namirembe Parents, and St. Francis; and the Southern and Northern Regions having another 12 very competitive schools, including Kampala Parents School, Greenhill Academy, Palace Junior, and St. Catherine, among others.

Action from one of the under 8 matches of the Private Schools League last year. Courtesy photo

The PSL will see teams play group-stage matches in their regions, and the top two in each region will qualify for the quarter-finals, before the semis and finals in August. 

Recognised as Uganda's largest private school football tournament, the event will welcome nearly 28 teams and 10,000 athletes for five months of elite competition and celebration of one of the fastest-growing sporting activities in the country. Last year, the league had participation from over 24 schools, and The Stoneridge School, Seeta Junior School, and Greenhill Academy emerged as champions in the U12, U10, and U8 age groups, respectively. 

Anne Nagujja, a sports teacher at The Stoneridge School, said that UJL’s PSL has so far outperformed other competitions because the officiation is very professional, and the only problem before was player screening, where some schools used overage players. 

The issue of overage players has been resolved following the UJL meeting last month, which had all participating schools in attendance. It was resolved that this season all players' age screening should be scientific, with each player presenting proof of age in the form of a birth certificate or LIN number, said the league's secretary, Kausharah Nakayiza. This year’s champions will not only walk away with medals and trophies, but there is also a plan to have a cash prize, which will be the first for youth sports here, says Charles Sssendagire the league director. 

Also, the best players in the league will form an All-Star team that will represent UJL in Nairobi, Kenya, in the LIGI Cup, to be played in September. The League is sponsored by Builders Zone Hardware and Muscle Homeplus Limited.