FUFA Big League
Founded2009
CountryUganda
ConfederationCAF
Divisions2
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toUgandan Premier League
Relegation toRegional Leagues
Domestic cup(s)Ugandan Cup & Pilsner Super 8
Current championsBlacks Power FC
TV partnersFUFA TV
Websitewww.fufa.co.ug

The Ugandan Big League is the second tier of Ugandan football pyramid.

History

Original concept

The concept of re-structuring Ugandan football with the creation of a new second tier league was first mooted in October 2008 by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations. The idea that was single-handedly promoted by Eng. Moses Magogo was ridiculed, resisted, and fought by everyone. Although Magogo felt abandoned but he was buoyed by the inaugural clubs that were determined to proceed. Eventually out of persistence, Magogo won one by one convert and eventually the league was passed by the FUFA Executive Committee. The new national second division league, known as the FUFA Big League (FBL), was to cater for leading sides in the five regions. Second tier sides at that time competed at the regional level, with many of them failing to cope with advancement whenever they gained promotion to the national Super League.[1]

FUFA Competitions Committee secretary, Moses Magogo, confirmed that qualification to the Super League through the regional mini leagues would be ended and replaced by promotion through the national first division league. A major objective of the initiative was to help raise the standard of football outside the Super League.[1]

Administration

The FUFA Big League (FBL) is managed by the FUFA Competitions Committee and was launched on 6 August 6, 2009. The following clubs are eligible to play in the FBL:

  • Clubs that participated in the Uganda Premier League (UPL) in the previous season and were relegated;
  • Clubs that participated in the FBL in the previous season and were not relegated to the regional leagues;
  • Clubs that participated in the FBL in the previous season and were not promoted to the UPL; and
  • Clubs that are promoted from the FUFA Regional Competitions through an FBL Qualification Competition.[2]

If there are more than 16 clubs in the FBL it is divided into two groups with each group being run as a league competition. However, if there are less than 17 clubs, the competition will be run as a single group league competition.[2]

The Competitions Committee set stringent standards for member clubs covering computer literacy, a sound bank account, stadia that meet FUFA standards, qualified coaches and doctors.[3] The initial requirements for clubs included:

  • Payment of a sh250,000 registration fee;
  • An office or physical address with a fixed telephone line, fax and e-mail address;
  • A secretary with a minimum O-level qualification;
  • Signing of legal declaration form covering discipline; and
  • Submission of bank statements to the FUFA Competitions Committee.[3]

Initial participants

The 16 clubs that competed in the first season of the FBL in 2009-10 were as follows:

Uganda.
Participating clubs Settlement Position in the 2008/09 season
Bishop Nankyama FC Bukalasa Semi-finalists from Buganda Regional League
Devine Waters FC Apac Third placed team from North Regional Super Mini League
Fort Hills FC Fort Portal Third placed team from West Regional Super Mini League
Gulu United FC Gulu
Jinja Arsenal FC Jinja
Jinja Municipal Council Hippos FC Jinja Runner-up from East Regional Super Mini League
KASE FC Kampala Third placed team from Kampala Regional Super Mini League
Maroons FC Kampala Runners-up from Kampala Regional Super Mini League
Masaka Municipal Council FC Masaka
Mbale Heroes FC Mbale Third placed team from East Regional Super Mini League
Mbarara United FC Mbarara Fourteenth team in Uganda Super League
Misindye FC Mukono Third placed team from Buganda Regional Super Mini League
Ndejje University FC Luwero Runners-up from Buganda Regional Super Mini League
Samba Boys FC Yumbe Runners-up from North Regional Super Mini League
Sharing Youth FC Kampala Seventeenth team in Uganda Super League
UTODA FC Kampala Semi-finalists from Kampala Regional League

[4][5]

Honours

Big League Championship Playoffs

Season Champions Result Runner-up Venue
2009-10 Maroons FC 2-0 Gulu United FC Masindi Municipal Stadium, Masindi
2010-11 Maji FC 5-2 Hoima-Busia FC Njeru Stadium, Jinja
2011-12 Entebbe Young FC 1-0 Kiira Young Namboole Stadium, Kampala
2012-13 Bright Stars FC 2-1 CRO FC Mehta Stadium, Lugazi
2013-14 Lweza FC 2-1 Sadolin Bugembe FC KCCA STADIUM, Lugogo
2014–15 Maroons FC 1-0 The Saints FC Phillip Omondi Stadium
2015–16 Kirinya Jinja SS 2-0 Onduparaka FC Nakivubo Stadium
2016–17 Maroons FC 2-1 Masavu FC Phillip Omondi Stadium
2017–18 Ndejje University FC 1-0 Nyamityobora FC Star Times Stadium, Lugogo
2018–19 Proline FC 1-0 Wakiso Giants FC Star Times Stadium, Lugogo

Big League Promotion Playoffs

Season Winners Result Runner-up Venue
2009-10 UTODA FC 1-0 Misindye FC Kampala
2010-11 Bul FC 1-0 [aet] Iganga Municipal Council FC
2011-12 SC Victoria University 4-0 Aurum Roses FC Namboole Stadium, Kampala
2012-13 Soana FC 3-0 Koboko FC Mehta Stadium, Lugazi
2015–16 Proline FC 4–1 Sporting United (Lira) Nakivubo Stadium
2017–18 Paidha Black Angels FC 0–0 (p. 4-2) Kitara FC Star Times Stadium, Lugogo
2018-19 Kyetume FC 4–1 Kansai Plascon FC Star Times Stadium, Lugogo

Big League Group honours

Elgon Group

Season Group Winners Playoff Qualifier 1 Playoff Qualifier 2
2009-10 Gulu United FC (P) UTODA FC (P)
2010-11 Hoima-Busia FC (P) Bul FC (P) Iganga Municipal Council FC
2011-12 Entebbe Young FC (P) Mbarara Old Timers FC CRO FC
2012-13 CRO FC (P) Soroti Garage FC Mbale Heroes FC
2013-14 Sadolin Paints FC (P) KJT Rwenshama (P) Kirinya Jinja SSS
2014-15 Maroons FC (P)
2015-16
2016-17 Maroons FC (P) Ndejje University Kiira United
2017-18 Ndejje University (P) Paidha Black Angels (P) Kyetume FC
2018-19 Wakiso Giants FC (P) Kyetume FC (P) UPDF

Rwenzori Group

Season Group Winners Playoff Qualifier 1 Playoff Qualifier 2
2009-10 Maroons FC (P) Misindye FC
2010-11 Maji FC (P) Boroboro Tigers FC CRO FC
2011-12 Kiira Young (P) SC Victoria University (P) Aurum Roses FC
2012-13 Bright Stars FC (P) Soana FC (P) Koboko FC
2013-14 Lweza FC (P) Baza Holdings Mutundwe Lions
2014-15 The Saints FC (P)
2015-16
2016-17 Masavu FC (P) Synergy FC Mbarara City FC (P)
2017-18 Nyamityobora FC (P) Kitara FC Kabale Sharp FC
2018-19 Proline FC (P) Kansai Plascon FC Dove FC

Player Honours

Season Most Valuable Player Top Scorer
2014–15 Fred Kalanzi, Lweza FC (9 goals)
2015–16[6] Muhammad Shaban, Onduparaka FC Edrisa Lubega, Proline FC (19 goals)
2016–17[7] Patrick Kaddu, Maroons FC (16 goals)
2017–18
2018–19[8] Bright Anukani, Proline FC Ivan Bogere, Proline FC (14 goals)

Sponsorship

On 1 November 2013, it was announced that the Airtel Telecommunications company had signed a four-year contract providing a total of 400 million shillings (about 160,000 US dollars) towards funding different activities under both the FUFA Big League and the Ugandan Cup until 2016.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Big league introduced". NewVision. 2008. Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
  2. 1 2 "FUFA BiG League" (Facebook). FUFA. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
  3. 1 2 "FUFA sets tough rules for BIG League clubs". NewVision. 2010. Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2014-01-16.
  4. ↑ "Uganda 2009/10 - RSSSF (Hans Schöggl and Ian King )". RSSSF. 2009–2010. Retrieved 2014-01-16.
  5. ↑ "FUFA Welcomes Five More Football Clubs to the Big League". Uganda Radio Network. 2010. Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  6. ↑ Mugabi, Sully. "Jinja SS Crowned 2015-16 Big League Champions".
  7. ↑ Achan, Jacky (8 May 2017). "How Maroons clinched FUFA Big League title".
  8. ↑ Isabirye, David. "Kyetume 4-1 Kansai Plascon: The Slaughters promoted to the Uganda Premier League".
  9. ↑ "Big League clubs hail FUFA President, Airtel". FUFA. 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-17.
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