2017/18 FUFA Big League Final Regular season matches
Elgon Group:
- Kamuli Park 0-1 Ndejje University
- Jinja Municipal Council (JMC) Hippos 1-0 Paidha Black Angels
- Amuka Bright Stars 1-2 Kyetume
Rwenzori Group:
- Kabale Sharp Vs Simba (Simba failed to travel to Kabale for the match)
- Nyamityobora 2-0 Water
- Kansai Plascon 2-1 Bumate
- Synergy 2-3 Kitara
- Kira United 1-0 Ntinda United
- Kireka United 5-0 Greater Masaka
Term it as resilience, well packaged with diligence, determination, enthusiasm, perseverance and sheer luck, Ndejje University Football Club has had it all for close to 10 years in the second tier league.
Finally, Ndejje University FC is promoted to the highest football level in the country, the Uganda Premier League.
The positive feat was confirmed on Sunday, May 13, 2018 on a barren and dusty Kamuli Park Municipal Stadium before hundreds of spectators under a tense and charged up environ where the media was barred by the home fans and officials from recording the proceedings of the match.
By close of business on the day, Ndejje University who are christened as the “Lions” had drawn goal-less with Kamuli Park FC to finish with 40 points.
Their closest challengers, West Nile region representatives Paidha Black Angels fell 1-0 away to former top flight side, Jinja Municipal Council (JMC) Hippos at the Kakindu Stadium in Jinja, on the same day.
Paidha Black Angels finished the regular season with 39 points and will qualify for the plays alongside Kyetume who won 2-1 on the road to Amuka Bright Stars at the Lira Town College play ground in the Northern Uganda district of Lira.
Raymond Komakech, head coach at Ndejje University F.C attributed the success script to hard work and good mental strength of his players.
We have been in the FUFA Big league since inception. Our promotion to the Uganda Premier League was purely due to hard work, good preparations and sound mental strength from the players.
The Luwero based club has endured all seasons in the FUFA Big league and remained the only pioneer club that founded the second division.
They join Nyamityobora Football Club as the other directly promoted club to the top league in Uganda from the Rwenzori group.
The third club will be determined via a promotional play off on dates yet to be communicated by the FUFA Competitions department.
In the other results of the day, Livingstone Mbabazi’s Kyetume won 2-1 away to Lira against Amuka Bright Stars and will now qualify for the promotional play offs alongside Paidha Black Angels from the Elgon group.
The two clubs that will engage in the play offs from the Rwenzori group are; Kitara and
Meanwhile, Synergy F.C which played and lost in the play off finals last season has been relegated to the third tier league – Buganda region league.
The Masaka side coached by Buganda FUFA Delegate Brian Ssengendo lost 3-2 to Kitara at the Kasasa play ground in Masaka on the final day of regular season.
After losing 3-2 at home to lowly Ntinda United, already promoted Nyamityobora climaxed the colourful season on a high note, winning 2-0 against visiting Water at the Nyamityobora play ground in Mbarara Municipality.
Team skipper Douglas Muganga led by example with the day’s opening goal in the first half.
Brian Muluri sealed their win with the second goal in the closing stanza of the game.
The FUFA Big league is a feeder division for the Uganda Premier League with the best two clubs per group (Elgon and Rwenzori) qualifying directly after the regular season.
The third club is determined via a promotional play off where the two best clubs (second and third placed) behind the group winner are engaged in a mini league format (semi finals an finals).
For the last couple of years, the play off have been held at Muteesa II Wankulukuku Stadium and the Star Times stadium, Lugogo.
Last season, Mbarara City, Masavu and Maroons were the promoted clubs.
