New format, prizes for Pilsner Super 8

Fufa’s Byamukama (L) picks KCCA during the draw as UBL’s Mzito and Fufa’s Mandu look on.
PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA

Reigning league champions KCCA and heavyweights Vipers were handed ties against newly promoted sides Wakiso Giants and Proline respectively after draws for the Pilsner Super 8 tournament were conducted in Luzira on Monday.
It is the increase in prize money that is however likely to appeal more to the eight participating teams after the package was doubled to shs68m up from Shs30m in the inaugural edition.
The winners of this season’s competition are destined to earn Shs20m up from Shs10m last season while the runner up will get Shs12m and second runner-up Shs10m.
Last season KCCA manager Mike Mutebi whose team defeated Onduparaka 2-0 to win the maiden title was critical of the prize money allocation. “Football as we all know is Uganda’s biggest sport and Uganda breweries is proud to be a part of the growth of local football through this sponsorship,” Uganda Breweries’ head of beer Estella Muzito said at the launch.

At least three matches
There were also changes announced to the competition format with all eight teams set to play at least three matches.
The four winners of the opening round of games will proceed to the semifinals with the losing teams playing classification games to determine positions five-eight.
“Uganda have just returned from a successful Africa Cup of Nations tournament where the team progressed to the knockout stages for the first time since 1978. The improvement is partly due to support for tournaments such as this,” Fufa Marketing Committee chairman Rogers Byamukama said.