The Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) national boys and girls football championships get underway today at Masaka SS and Ndejje SS.

The successful school teams from the 19 USSSA zones, head to the respective hosting grounds, having known their opponents following the draws that were conducted at USSSA offices in Kampala on Thursday afternoon.

The boys’ record winners St Mary’s Kitende (11 titles) travel to Masaka ahead of their title defence, well-knowing that Group A opponents Mbale Progressive, Ngora High School, and Kisozi Seed School stand in their way for preliminary round progress.

Boys’ 10-time champions Kibuli SS who rival Kitende in the title brag, will take their preliminary battle against battle Jinja Comprehensive, St Augustine Minor Seminary, and Sironko SS in pool L while 2018 champions Buddo SS have been placed against Kakungulu Memorial, Kabong SS and Bulo Parents in Group H.

FEASSA games hosts Bukedea Comprehensive School, who are competing at this stage for only their second time, will start their possible title quest against home side Blessed Sacrament Kimanya, Tawheed Institute, and Highway Kiganda in group G while hosts Masaka SS have been drawn in Group O alongside Andy Mwesigwa, Ankole champions Welden School Mbarara and Makobere High School.

In the girls category, defending champions Amus College School, have been placed in Group A alongside Kayindu SS, Acaba SS, St Maliko, Hope SS –Biira, and Nkoma SS.

Record winners Kawempe Moslem are in Group D alongside Bishop Comboni, Moyo Star, St Marys Magdalen, Kyeizoba and hosts Ndejje SS.

2022 national and FEASSA games champion St Noa, find themselves in Group H against Mukono Kings, Kangole Girls, Omset School, Moon Vocational, and Maryhill Girls Mbarara.

The draws saw 64 boys teams drawn in 16 groups of 4 teams each and will be playing the round of 32 after the group stages before the round of 16 down to the quarter-finals, semis, and finals while the 46 girls teams drawn in 8 groups, will be going to round of 16 after the group games.

USSSA NATIONAL CHAMPINSHIPS DRAWS

Group A: St Marys Kitende, Mbale Progressive, Ngora High sch, Kisozi Seed Sch

Group B: Old Kampala, Tororo Progressive, Kakungulu Bombo, St Charles Lwanga Kasasa

Group C: Kawempe Muslim, Nakaseke International, Langwai Seed sch, Busia SS

Group D: St Joseph Layibi, Nkoma SS, Kyabenda SS, Kaserem SS

Group E: Standard High Zzana, Wisdom College, Mentor SS, Luwero SS

Group F: Lake Side Masese, Mvara SS, St Paul Bukinda, Ndejje SS

Group G: Blessed Sacrament Kimanya, Bukedea Comp. School, Tawheed Institute, Highway Kiganda

Group H: Buddo SS, Kakungulu Memorial, Kabong SS, Bulo Parents

Group I: Amus College School, Rakasinga CHE, Madox SS, Kyadondo SS

Group J: St Kagwa High Sch, Paidha SS, St Maliko High, St Julian

Group K: London College, Jinja SS, Bugangari SS, Mumsa SS

Group L: Kibuli SS, Jinja Comprehensive, St Augustine Minor Seminary and Sironko SS

Group M: Jinja Progressive Academy, Uganda Matyrs –Lubaga, Koochi SS and Quality High School

Group N: Mukono Kings, Fort Portal SS, Pabo SS and Sseke SS

Group O: Andy Mwesigwa, Welden School Mbarara, Makobere High and Masaka SS

Group P: St Henrys Col Kitovu, Kabalega SS, Kobulubulu SS and Hillview College -Bulangira

Girls football

Group A: Amus College School, Kayindu SS, Acaba SS, St Maliko, Hope SS –Biira and Nkoma SeS

Group B: Shuuku Vocational, Biyaya SS, Uganda Martyrs –Lubaga, Bukedea Comprehesive School, Amazing Grace and Latifa Mixed

Group C: Sacred Heart, Masaka SS, Benyinyi SS, St Kiligwajjo, Nyakasenyi SS and Teryet High Sch

Group D: Kawempe Muslim, Bishop Comboni, Moyo Star, St Marys Magdalen, Kyeizoba, Ndejje Sec Sch

Group E: Rines School, St Charles Lwanga, Y.Y Okot, Jinja SS, Kisozi Seed Sch and Dynamic SS

Group F: Bon Consilii, Buhobe SS, La Mennais, Moroto High, Highway –Kiganda, Standard High Zaana

Group G: Sheema Girls, Bunya SS, Aidan College, Labira Girls, Kihiihi SS, Highway -Sironko

Group H: St Noa Girls, Mukono Kings, Kangole Girls, Omset School, Moon Vocational and Maryhill Girls.