East African school games still troubled by age-cheaters as doubts cast over Ugandan players

Amus College and Kitovu in group A action during the FEASSSA games | USSSA

SCHOOLS FOOTBALL East African school games still troubled by age-cheaters as doubts cast over Ugandan players

Fred Mwambu • 15:35 - 25.08.2023

Mugisha’s revelations come at a time when several commentators have raised their doubts over several football players who feature for Ugandan teams in the games.

The Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Associations president Justus Mugisha has admitted that the body is still struggling to weed out age cheats and mercenaries, 20 years on.

Mugisha, who is also the FUFA's first vice president, opened up to his fellow administrators during a symposium at the Boni Concili Hotel Huye City in Rwanda.

The symposium mainly focussed on two key issues; Mass sport to all learners in the member countries and the fight to remove over-age learners in all sports disciplines.

“As FEASSSA, we must agree to eradicate some vices, age cheating is a big problem and we must fight it together,” Mugisha told the delegates present.

Mugisha’s revelations come at a time when several commentators have raised their doubts over several football players who feature for Ugandan teams in the games.

For example, one commentator wondered how St. Mary’s Secondary School in Kitende managed to field Enock Luyima and Fazil Tumwine while their compatriots Kibuli SS had Kenneth Kimera.

Earlier in May, Kitende’s head coach Dan Male revealed that the school had several players who were ineligible for nationals but fit for East Africa games.

He said: “…we are going to assemble a team because we have other players who were not eligible for nationals but qualify to play in the East Africa tournament.”

Kitende will face St. Henry’s Kitovu in the boys’ football semi-finals as Kibuli play Amus College in the other match on Saturday.

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