The long awaited D-Day for many teams across the country is here as the preliminary rounds of the Airtel Rising Stars U-17 football tournament kick-off early July.
The preliminary round action will witness district qualifiers where 4 teams per region will make it to the regionals.
All this comes in the wake of the successful launch of this year’s edition of Airtel Rising Stars early in June.
“The pre-regional qualifiers start next week ahead of the first regional finals of the Kitara and Western region that will be held at Masindi on the 11th July 2015” says part of a statement from Airtel Uganda.
Kampala and Buganda will host the regional finals at Masaka on 25th July 2015 followed by Eastern and North East regional finals on the 15th September 2015 at Mbale Municipal stadium.
The last regional finals will take place in Gulu where the finalists from West Nile and Northern regions will play at the Pece stadium on the 17th October 2015.
The national finals will be hosted by Mbarara on the 31st October 2015.
L-R: Martin Kizza, Kezironi Kizito and Farouk Miya at the ARS season 5 launch
This will be fifth edition of the Airtel Rising Stars played by boys and girls under the age of 17.
Airtel Uganda Brand, Assets and Properties manager, Noella Byuma anticipates a better tourney with healthy competition amongst the teams.
“We obviously expect a more colourful event of the 5th Airtel Rising Stars. This is a football tournament that provides a plat form to tap raw talent, identify the potential players whom shall be groomed as future professionals” Byuma notes.
Airtel Rising Stars football tournament has been launched across Africa with Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfield icon, Yaya Toure the brand ambassador.
For Uganda’s case, underground preparations and consultations have taken close to half a year on how to make the tournament more appealing to the public especially the youngsters.
“The Airtel Rising Stars programme is one tournament of talent identification, grooming and entertainment” Byuma adds.
FUFA provides the technical expertise to run the event.
Detailed Regional Programmes:
Kitara & Western Region – Masindi, 11th July 2015
Kampala & Buganda Region – Masaka, 25th July 2015
Eastern & North East Regions – Mbale, 15th September 2015
West Nile & Northern Regions – Gulu, 17th October 2015
National Finals – Mbarara, 31st October 2015
