Lakeside SS coach eyes last 16 as Jinja schools football begin
Lakeside SS clinched last year’s district title with a 1-0 victory over Jinja Comprehensive in a tightly guarded final at Gaddafi Arena in Jinja Town.
Lakeside SS coach eyes last 16 as Jinja schools football begin
Bruno Mugooda
Journalist @New Vision
Salim Lubowa, head coach of defending champions Lakeside SS, is optimistic his team will progress to the last 16 from Group A in this year’s Jinja District Senior Secondary Schools Football Championship.
The preliminary qualifying matches begin on Friday, March 7, at MM College Wairaka grounds, despite the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) struggling to secure sponsors for the national finals since 2023.
Lakeside SS clinched last year’s district title with a 1-0 victory over Jinja Comprehensive in a tightly guarded final at Gaddafi Arena in Jinja Town.
“We aim for a strong start with the talented squad we have. My priority is to defend our title and challenge the dominance of JIPRA and Jinja SSS in this region,” Lubowa stated.
Lakeside SS face stiff competition in Group A, which includes Jinja College, Buwenge Seed, Jinja Modern, Harding Christian Academy, Mpumudde High, and Jinja North SS Butembe.
The top two teams from Friday’s matches will advance to the last 16 of the tournament.
Other groups;
Group B - Busedde seed,Nsuube SDA,St Javira Buwenge,St Stevens Budondo,Busoga College Mwiri,St Peters high school and LC4 at Jinja SS grounds on Saturday.
Group C -Jinja City College,Jinja city Nakabango,Nyanza high,Mother Kevin,Lubani SS,Gloryland,Nsaka SS, Wanyange progressive at Wairaka college on Sunday.
Group D -Jinja SS ,London college,Mutai SS,St Joseph's Nakanyonyi,Hope community high school,East SS,New Glory Buwenge.
Group E- JIPRA,St John's Wakitaka,Buyengo SS,Masese seed,St Gonzaga,Kagoma,St James SS,Nile High school.
Group F- Kiira College Butiki, Wanyange seed,Viva college,Good Heart SS,Hillside SS Lubani,Honest hill , Network for hope,MM College Wairaka.
Group G- Lwanda High, Mpumudde seed,Pilkington college Muguruka,IQRA,Buwenge College,Busoga Light college, Army memorial,Sunnyside SS.
Group H-Jinja comprehensive,Holy cross Lakeview,Wairaka Modern,City Parents ,Kakira high,St Mary's college Buwenge,Kiira view,Iziro SS.