Underdogs stun as Ankole school football kicks off

The Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) Ankole zone boys’ football championship kicked off on Thursday in Bushenyi, with teams fiercely competing for honors and a chance to qualify for the national championship.

The four-day tournament will see the top four teams advance to this year’s USSSA national boys’ football championship, scheduled for next month in Ngora. The opening matches delivered a mix of surprises and tightly contested games, with several fixtures ending in narrow scorelines due to the high level of competition and waterlogged pitches following heavy rainfall on Thursday.

Among the standout results, debutants Gracious High School Mbarara defeated Ibanda champions Keihangara Seed 2-1, while underdogs Kinoni High School pulled off a shock 1-0 victory over record holders Ryakasinga CHE in their respective group matches

It was also a historic day for Buhweju teams, who secured their first-ever points in a tournament where they have rarely competed and have often struggled in previous appearances. Ndibarema High School battled to a 1-1 draw against Kirugu SS from Rubirizi, while district champions St Paul’s High School were held to a 1-1 stalemate by St Jude. Butare SS made history with Buhweju’s first win, edging St Paul’s Rushoka from Ntungamo 1-0.

The competition, which will conclude on Sunday with the finals, continues today with morning group games followed by the round of 32 matches in the evening.

USSSA Ankole zone  

Kitagata 0 Kicwamba 3

Nganwa 1 St Benedict 0

Ntare School 0 Rwantsinga 1

Mbarara Army 4 Ruhinda 0

Nyamitanga SS 2 Ankole 0

St. Augustine 1 Ijumo 2

Kabingo Seed 0 Bubangizi 0

Ibanda SS 2 Rwentojo 1

Ruyonza 1 Ryeru Seed 0

Ruhinda SS 0 Itendero SS 1

Kirugu SS 1 Ndibarema 1

Global HS 1 Standard HS 1

Kasana 3 Mwamba SS 1

Nyabubare 3 St Paul SS 0

Kanyabwanga 0 Ryeru Seed 2

Mbarara High 3 Butare SS 0

St Kagwa 1 Bishop Bakyenga 0

Crane Hs 3 Kanoni SS 0

JJ Voc 0 Central SS 1

Itendero SS 0 Five Star 1

Bishop Ogez 0 Kazo SS 0

Savana 1 Sanga SS 1

Kinoni HS 5 Kitwe SS 0

St Joseph 1 Buremba SS 4

Mwizi 1 Nsasi 1

Al Noor 3 St Peters 0

Bustibo 2 St Pauls Rushooka 1

Oxford SS 1 Katunguru Seed 0

Welden 2 Kasana 0

Gracious 2 Keihangara 1

Kanoni 1 Kaaro HS 3

Kyamate 0 Vine 0

Sanga 0 Mina HS 2

Nsasi 0 SEDES 2

Rwentojo 3 St Peters 1

Butare 1 St Pauls Rushooka 0

Arch Bishop Bakyenga 0 Keihangara 1

St Paul’s HS 1 St Jude 1

Kyamate 0 Rubindi 1

Global 2 Kitagata 2

Ryakatsinga CHE 1 Nakivale 0

Kinoni 1 Ryakasinga CHE 0

Bustibo 0  Mbarara High 5

St Kagwa 2 Gracious HS 0

Bugamba SS 1 Nyabubare 1
Ruyonza 4 Kanyabwanga 1