Amus College School are the new Big Boys in Mbale town after being crowned 2023 Mbale Super 8 Champions.
The school boys beat Mbale Garage 4-2 in a post match penalty shootout, following a 0-0 draw in regular time at Mbale Stadium on Saturday, 9, September.
Abdu Sonko Ssembatya missed the first for Amus, before Mahadi Mugerwa, Murushid Wandera, Allan Oyrwoth and Ismail Mukalazi all converted theirs while only two of Mbale Garage’s players scored theirs and others missed.
To reach the final, the Nimrod Kintu-coached school team had the better of the more experienced FUFA Big League side Kataka FC in the semifinal, they won 4-2 on penalties after forcing a two-all draw.
What a year it has been for the school boys! From emerging as district champions, impressing nationally and regionally to getting promotion to the third division, and making international headlines, Amus’ name has been so synonymous with success, recording a numerous number of victories along the way.
The school, under the steady stewardship of Kachumbala County MP, Hon. Patrick Isiagi Opolot has been lined up amongst the best, or the very best in each one of the competitions they have played in this year.
The have played good football, won games, won trophies plus medals, and also won hearts of many, all in a limited space of time – consistently, and dominantly.
In May, in the National Secondary Schools Championship in Fort Portal, Amus defied all odds, making it to the best four of the most prestigious schools football tournament in the country.
They came as underdogs, and shocked record winners Kibuli S.S 3-1 in the quarter final to set up a date against traditional giants Kitende, which they unluckily lost 4-2 on penalties following a one-all draw. They produced the MVP in Allan Oyrwoth.
This coming season, the school team will be playing in the Eastern Regional League – Bukedi zone after emerging champions of the Zonal Mini Playoffs in June. They beat UCU 1-0 in the final in Busiu.
In July, Amus flew Uganda’s flag high in Morrocco, in the International School Sport Federation (ISF) World Schools Football Championship. They finished 17th out of 28 schools.
But the biggest highlight was when the Ugandan school humiliated Nepal’s Nexus School 26-1 in their opener, in which Allan Oyirwoth (8), Murushid Wandera (5), Erick Kamuhanda (3) and captain Bran Mujab Toto (3) all scored. Oyrwoth went on to beat over 1200 players from 28 countries of the world to
the top scorer’s accolade, with ten goals.
In August, Amus scooped silver in the boys’ football category in the FEASSSA games, after losing to Kitende on penalties in the final in Rwanda, they still produced the tournament’s top scorer, Allan Oyrwoth with 12 goals.
And in September, Amus have now become the latest Mbale Super 8 champions, the seventh team to win the title after six other Mbale football giants; Mbale Tigers won the inaugural tournament in 2016, followed by Kataka twice, CRO, Mbale Garage, Mbale Heroes and IUIU. The tournament wasn’t held in 2020 due to COVID-19.
