Officials take fight against hooliganism to schools

Mbarara district refereeing officials have embarked on sensitization of students and players about the rules and regulations in officiating football matches.

This is in a bid to curb down growing violence in schools football championships.

The timely initiative comes with the start of the National Copa Coca Cola Championships which get underway with the zonal qualifiers in Mbarara on Tuesday.

Retired referee Abbas Ssendyowa, who is now a CAF referee assessor/instructor, says they have decided to do the volunteer in order to help minimize on the violence that has rocked schools football in Mbarara.

"We realized that the major cause of students' violence during these football seasons has been a lack of understanding of the rules of the game by both the players, games teachers and the students. We have decided come in such that all this fighting can be minimised" Ssendyowa said.

The official who have been divided into different groups, have been moving from school to school in the Ankole region.

"We are hopeful the players and students have understood a piece of the regulations and we hope for a peaceful season" he added.

Last year, several students got serious injuries and some school property got destroyed, when over 10 schools got involved in fighting during the Post Primary Schools Football Championships in Mbarara.