FUFA Big League match-day One:
Thursday, September 21
•Booma Vs Jinja North United – Masindi
Sunday, September 24
•Ndejje University Vs Kaaro Karungi – Arena of Visions
•Calvary Vs Kigezi Homeboyz – Midigo
•Blacks Power Vs Onduparaka – Akii-bua Stadium
•Kyetume Vs Kiyinda Boys – Nakisunga Ssaza
Monday, September 25
•Police Vs Young Elephants – Kavumba
Tuesday, September 26
•Mbale Heroes Vs Kataka – Mbale Municipal
The 2023/24 FUFA Big League fixture has been released, with the season set to get underway later this month.
This, is the second tier of Uganda Football League system where the top three sides at the end of the season book tickets to Uganda Premier League.
Booma and Jinja North United will set the ball rolling on Thursday, September 21 in Masindi.
The two relegated sides from UPL last season Onduparaka and Blacks Power face off on match-day one, with the latter hosting the crunch tie on Sunday, September 24 at Akii-bua Stadium in Arua.
Police, who missed on the three promotional places (taken up by NEC, Mbarara City and Kitara) last season, will start at home against Young Elephants who were promoted from the Northern Regional League.
There is a Mbale derby as newly promoted Mbale Heroes will welcome rivals Kataka at the Mbale Municipal Stadium om Tuesday, September 26.
The other promoted sides Kiyinda Boys and Kigezi Homeboyz will both start on the road against Kyetume and Calvary respectively on Sunday, September 24.
The First Round will end on December 28 before the second round kicks off on February 11 next year while the season will climax on May 19, 2024.
Onduparaka Seek Resuscitation
Onduparaka will be playing Big League football for the first time since May 2016!
Their last match then, was a 3-0 win over defunct Sporting United, with goals coming from Rashid Agau, Muhammed Shaban and Wahab Gaddafi to confirm their promotion.
Fifth on the table in their first season in Uganda Premier League wasn’t their only highlight but the huge fan base as the side made Arua a fortress.
The following season, the Caterpillars finished fourth with 48 points in 2017/18 before Sixth and eighth positions respectively in the subsequent seasons.
Their struggles started to manifest in form of financial hardships, led by the departure of Main Sponsor Betway Uganda!
Players complained about going months without pay and stars departed for greener pastures.
They finished five points above the drop in 2020/21 Covid season, and could have gone down if the season was played to competition then.
A slight improvement the following season (2021/22) as they finished ninth with 37 points.
Last season, they were relegated with two games to spare, learning their fate after a 1-0 defeat against Maroons on May 16 at Luzira.
And the side went on to finish rock bottom with 22 points.
A lot has happened since then, majorly, former player Caesar Okhuti who played for the club in 2015, returned for a second spell between 2017 to 2019, was named the head coach.
Rashid Okocha is among the players who have left while Faisal Ssekyanzi is among new recruits.
It promises to be a tricky season for Onduparaka but the side will hope to make their hoke ground a fortress if they are to bounce back in UPL.
