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St. Noa ready for topflight debut, Asubo return

Safe hands. St. Noa keeper Lillian Nakirya (R) conceded just once in 12 regular season matches and was February player of rhe month.  PHOTO/JACKSON KAYIIRA

What you need to know:

Asubo’s 2024/25 season has been unique as they were the only Kampala-based side placed in Victoria Group. The Elizabeth group had sides like Kawempe Muslim (URA), Isra Academy, St. Noa Girls Zana, and Uganda Christian University (UCU) Lady Cardinals based in Kampala and Mukono.

Asubo will return to the topflight Finance Trust Bank Fufa Women Super League (FTBFWSL) for the 2025/26 season.

The side topped the Victoria Group of the second tier Elite League (FTBFWEL) with 29 points from 12 games. They won nine matches, drew twice, and lost once in the regular season.

Asubo’s 2024/25 season has been unique as they were the only Kampala-based side placed in Victoria Group. The Elizabeth group had sides like Kawempe Muslim (URA), Isra Academy, St. Noa Girls Zana, and Uganda Christian University (UCU) Lady Cardinals based in Kampala and Mukono.

Asubo had to play their away games in; Mbale against Highway Ladies, Soroti against Ateker, Kachumbala against Goldstar, Amuru against Pabo United, Lira against Lango Queens, and Gulu against Sacred Hearts.

Club proprietor Sydney Asubo, a lawyer and anti-financial crime expert, believes they beat adversity – especially in the trips they had to endure – to return to the topflight, from where they were relegated at the end of the 2023/24 season.

“It has been a very tough season, but like they say, the harder something is, the sweeter the victory,” Asubo said in the aftermath of their promotion.

They were coached by Swalleh Kamya, whose mastery of the FWEL and getting teams promoted came to the fore again – a few years after he helped Wakiso Hill (now also relegated from the FWSL) to promotion.

While Kamya struggled with Wakiso in the 2023/24 topflight league and eventually lost his job at the club, Asubo are happy with the stability he brings.

But before Asubo even worry about the topflight, they must first battle St. Noa – the winners of the Elizabeth Group – in the playoff final of the 2024/25 FWEL season.

For both sides it is an important chance to win their first ever major title in the women football pyramid.

When they were promoted at the end of the 2022/23 season, Asubo lost 6-0 to Makerere University in the playoff finals.

St. Noa plan

St. Noa have been promoted to the topflight on their first attempt. They barely cracked all seasons as they won 10 matches and drew twice to finish unbeaten.

St. Noa only drew 0-0 away at She Kasese and 1-1 at home to Kawempe Muslim second tier side in the only match where they conceded a goal all season. However, coach Jimmy Kintu is not getting carried away.

“I think the Super League is another level, more complicated and the teams are a lot more organized,” Kintu said.

There was a time when St. Noa kept out of the domestic football pyramid and everyone wondered if they would ever get interested in going beyond school competitions.

The side, which at school level are reigning East Africa and national champions, have since had a change of heart. And they are tipped to bring a lot of competition to the topflight league.

“Our main aim is to groom players for better opportunities, especially from abroad where we have some friends and partners. If we can improve them through the league, then we can open up chances for them to get scholarships or professional football clubs abroad,” Kintu added.

FTBFWEL Standings

Elizabeth Group Table

Team                     P        W       D        L        F        A        Pts

St Noa Girls           12      10      2       0       17      1       32

UCU Lady Cardinals 12      6       2       4       21      11      20

Kawempe Muslim    12      4       5       3       11      10      17

Royal Dreamers      12      3       6       3       13      12      15

She Kasese            12      2       5       5       10      20      11

Isra Academy         12      1       4       7       10      25      7

She Geme             12      2       4       6       8       14      7

She Geme docked 3 points, 3 goals

St.Noa second round results

She Kasese 0-0 St. Noa

St. Noa 1-0 Royal Dreamers

UCU Lady Cardinals 0-1 St. Noa

St. Noa 1-1 Kawempe Muslim

Isra Academy 0-3 St. Noa

St. Noa 3-0 She Geme

Victoria Group

Team                     P        W       D        L        F        A        Pts

Asubo Ladies          12      9       2       1       33      4       29

Highway Ladies      12      7       3       2       22      12      24

Goldstar                12      8       0       4       20      14      21

Pabo United           12      4       4       4       11      11      16

Ateker                  12      2       5       5       12      16      11

Sacred Heart Gulu   12      3       0       9       11      26      9

Lango Queens        12      1       2       9       5       34      2

Goldstar, Lango Queens docked 3 points, 3 goals

Asubo second round results

Goldstar HS 0-1 Asubo

Asubo 4-0 Highway

Ateker 0-0 Asubo

Asubu 2-2 Lango Queens

Sacred Heart Gulu 0-3 Asubo

Asubo 2-0 Pabo United