Ugandan Super League
 2009 Ugandan Super League logo | |
| Country | Uganda |
|---|---|
| Confederation | CAF |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Levels on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Ugandan Big League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Ugandan Cup |
| International cup(s) |
Champions League Confederation Cup |
| Current champions |
Kampala City Council FC (2012/13) |
| Most championships | Villa SC (16) |
 2013-14 Uganda Super League | |
The Ugandan Super League is the top division of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations.[1] The league can trace its roots back to 1968 when the National First Division League was established.[2]
History
Original concept
The genesis of club football in Uganda was an idea copied from England by Mr. Balamaze Lwanga and Rev Polycarp Kakooza. The objective was to improve Uganda's performances in the Africa Cup of Nations after disappointing results in the finals in 1962 and 1968 held in Ethiopia. The intention was to start a Uganda National League (the forerunner of the Uganda Super League) in order to create foundation for a strong national team. At the same time the identification of players from the grassroots would be made easier and systematic. [3]
There were no clubs to form a league so institutions and districts were contacted to form teams. The 1968 inaugural top flight league comprised Prisons, Army, Coffee, Express, Jinja, Masaka, Mbarara and Mbale. There were 3 institutions and 4 districts and one club.[3] The league was known as the National First Division League and the first league champions were Prisons (now known as Maroons FC).[2]
After four seasons, the political turbulence in Uganda impacted on the league and the 1972 and 1973 championship were not completed because of civil unrest. In 1974 the league became known as the National Football League and this title was used until 1982 when the league was trimmed to 10 teams and was renamed the Super League (shortened to Super Ten in that inaugural season).[2]
Super League advent
The emergence of the Super League in 1982 saw the development of Sports Club Villa as the country's leading club. Through the 1980s and a good part of the 1990s, competition between Express FC, Kampala City Council FC (KCC) and SC Villa lit up the league and fans attended in hoards.[4]
SC Villa won the league for the first time in 1982 and over the next 22 years totalled 16 league titles. Kampala City Council FC and Express FC won the championship title in the intervening years.
Match-fixing
In 2003, football in Uganda hit its lowest ebb as Villa put 22 goals past Akol FC when the league title went down to goal difference with Express. This was one of the one of the biggest scandals in Ugandan football and thereafter, there was a complete media shutdown in all matters pertaining to local football.[4] Fans became increasingly disillusioned and deserted the stadia thus affecting the teams financially. [5]The episode represented one of many that has plagued Ugandan football.[6]
FUFA Super League
The 2013-14 FUFA Super League is being contested by 16 teams, including Bright Stars FC, CRO FC and Soana FC who were promoted from the Ugandan Big League at the end of the 2013/13 season.
Participants and locations
| Club | Settlement | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bidco Uganda Limited FC | Jinja | Kakindu Municipal Stadium | 1,000 |
| Bright Stars FC | Kampala | Nakivubo Stadium | 15,000 |
| CRO FC | Mbale | Mbale Municipal Stadium | 10,000 |
| Entebbe FC | Entebbe | Muteesa II Stadium | 20,200 |
| Express FC | Kampala | Muteesa II Stadium | 20,200 |
| Kampala City Council FC | Kampala | Lugogo Stadium | 3,000 |
| Kiira Young | Kampala | Luzira Prisons Stadium | 1,000 |
| Masaka Local Council FC | Masaka | Masaka Recreation Ground | 1,000 |
| Police FC | Jinja | Kavumba Recreation Centre | 1,000 |
| Proline FC | Buikwe | Nakivubo Stadium | 15,000 |
| Simba FC | Bombo | Bombo Stadium | 1,000 |
| Uganda Revenue Authority SC | Kampala | Lugazi Stadium | 2,000 |
| SC Victoria University | Kampala | Mandela National Stadium | 45,200 |
| SC Villa | Kampala | Nakivubo Stadium | 15,000 |
| Soana FC | Kampala | Kavumba Recreation Centre | 1,000 |
| Vipers SC | Buikwe | Buikwe Stadium | 2,000 |
Some of the Kampala clubs may on occasions also play home matches at the Mandela National Stadium. [7]
League standings
See 2013-14 Uganda Super League for the league table during the mid-season break.
Previous winners
|
|
|
Performances by club
| Club | Previous names | Settlement | Titles | Championship Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Villa SC | Nakivubo Boys Nakivubo Villa | Kampala | |
1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2002-03, 2004 |
| Kampala City Council FC | Kampala | | 1976, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1991, 1997, 2007-08, 2012-13 | |
| Express FC | Express Red Eagles | Kampala | | 1974, 1975, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2011-12 |
| Uganda Revenue Authority SC | Kampala | | 2006, 2006-07, 2008-09, 2010-11 | |
| Maroons FC | Prisons FC | Kampala | | 1968-69, 1969 |
| Simba FC | Army | Lugazi | | 1971, 1978 |
| Coffee United SC | Kakira | | 1970 | |
| Nile Breweries FC | Jinja | | 1980 | |
| Police FC | Jinja | | 2005 | |
| Uganda Commercial Bank FC | Kampala | | 1979 | |
| Vipers SC | Bunamwaya SC | Wakiso | | 2009-10 |
Top scorers
|
|
NB: * Joy Ssebuliba was leading league scorer with 17 goals for Lint FC in 1973 but the league was not completed because of the dire political situation.[8]
References
- ↑ Richard M Kavuma (2009-05-05). "Ugandan football struggles to compete with English Premier League | Katine". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "FUFA Files: History of the Uganda Super League". Soccer256. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Uganda Super League reaping from 1968 Sand Foundation". FUFA. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Origin of the Uganda Super League (USL)". USL Ltd. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
- ↑ "HB ZZIWA: Villa’s 22-1 win over Akol killed Ugandan football". The Observer. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
- ↑ "Top 10 List: Match fixing episodes in Ugandan football". The Observer. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
- ↑ "Ugandan Premier League: Venues 2013/13". Soccerway. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
- ↑ "The Legends: Uganda Super League top scorers since league inception". Kawowo.com. 2012-04-16. Retrieved 2014-01-24.
External links
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