The FUFA Technical Center in Njeru was buzzing with excitement today as the Giant 8 stage of the FUFA TV Cup commenced, bringing together the traditional schools that have made it to the prestigious round of 8. The competition, dubbed The Giant 8, marks a critical phase in this year’s edition, as these schools battle it out for the coveted title.
The first day of the tournament saw two intense Group A matches, each showcasing the determination and skill of the competing teams.
In the opening game, Nabumali High School faced off against Mengo Senior School in a thrilling match that ended 2-1 in favor of Nabumali. The game kicked off at 12:30 pm, with both teams eager to set the tone for their tournament run.
Nabumali struck first, with Emma Watiti finding the back of the net in added time of the first half, giving his team a crucial lead going into the break. Mengo Senior School responded just five minutes into the second half when John Sekabira capitalized on a defensive lapse to level the score.
However, Nabumali quickly regained their lead through Shakiri Wandera, whose goal ultimately secured the victory. The match was a showcase of attacking football, with both teams creating numerous chances and keeping the fans on the edge of their seats.
The second match of the day saw Mpanga SSS and Nganwa High School lock horns in a game that ended in a goalless draw. Despite the lack of goals, the match was far from uneventful. Mpanga SSS came out of the blocks strongly, dominating the first half with several dangerous attacks.
Their efforts saw them hit the woodwork multiple times and force a series of corner kicks, but they were unable to break the deadlock. The second half saw a shift in momentum as Nganwa High School made strategic substitutions, which increased their attacking threat and put Mpanga under pressure. Despite their efforts, both teams had to settle for a point each.
Nganwa High School’s coach, Mutebi Yusuf, expressed his intentions to implement a more tactical approach in their upcoming fixtures, aiming for better results in the days to come. On the other hand, Ampiire Gilbert, the coach of Mpanga SSS, attributed his team’s performance to their unfamiliarity with playing on artificial turf, noting that this was their first experience on such a surface.
The excitement continues tomorrow with two Group B fixtures on the schedule. St Charles Lwanga Koboko will take on Jinja SSS at 12:30 pm, followed by a clash between Lango College and Gombe SS at 3:30 pm. Both matches promise to deliver more thrilling football as the battle for the FUFA TV Cup intensifies.
