David GOMBE
The FUFA Executive has approved the new playing format of the prestigious FUFA Drum competition.
The tournament that attracts 16 Provinces will witness changes in the early stages of the 2023 edition.
The development was confirmed in the official communication signed off by the FUFA Deputy CEO-Football Decolas Kiiza reads;
“Whereas there had been desire to play the FUFA Drum in the original version with 61 matches being played, a new version will be introduced with 46 matches which is an improvement on the last edition where 30 matches were played”
The FUFA Drum resumed last year after two years of Covid-19 turmoil that horrendously affected various activities around the globe.
The approved version of the 2023 FUFA Drum is as follows,
•On the basis of the last edition’s performance the best 8 province teams will get byes to the next round.
•The last 8 Province teams are randomly paired to play home and away (8 matches).
•The 4 winners on aggregate join the other 8 that received byes to make 12 province teams.
•The 12 Province teams be seeded according to performance into 3 pots and draw of lots conducted to have 4 groups (A, B, C, D) of 3 teams each.
•Teams in each group play each other home and away (24 matches).
•The best 2 teams in each group progress to quarter finals (A1 v B2, B1 v A2, C1 v D2, D1 v C2) home and away (8 matches).
•Winners progress to semifinals to be played home and away (4 matches).
•Losers play for third place (1 match).
•Winners play for first place (1 match).
The past winners of the FUFA Drum are; Buganda Province (2018), Acholi Province (2019), West Nile Province (2022/2023).
West Nile Province emerged winners of the third edition of the FUFA Drum after a 3-2 aggregate win over Lango Province.