The 2024 edition of the International Schools Sports Association (ISF) schools football world cup concluded on Sunday at Suoyuwan Stadium in the city of Dalian, China. For Uganda, it was another significant international sports event, and the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) along with the Ministry of Education and Sports consider it a successful outing.
This marked Uganda’s second appearance at the ISF football competition, with the country previously participating solely in athletics.
In this year’s championship, which spanned eight days and featured 36 boys’ and 17 girls’ teams, four Ugandan schools participated: Amus College, Bukedea Comprehensive, and St Mary’s College Kisubi for boys, and Amus College for girls.
Amus College made an impressive run in the tournament, reaching the final match. However, they settled for silver after a closely contested match against the hosts, China. Despite a valiant effort, Amus College lost 5-4 in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw in regular time. This achievement is particularly commendable as it was only their second appearance in an international school competition.
Their journey to the final was marked by victories, including a triumph over Turkey in the quarter-finals and a hard-fought victory against fellow Ugandan school Bukedea Comprehensive in the semi-finals.
Bukedea Comprehensive School, making their debut at the ISF Football World Cup, also had an outstanding performance. They secured a bronze medal, finishing third out of 36 global teams. Their group stage dominance, with resounding victories over teams like Brazil and Germany, set the tone for their success. Despite a defeat to Amus College in the semi-finals, Bukedea ensured a bronze medal by defeating hosts China in the third-place playoff.
Additionally, Amus College’s girls’ team finished 8th out of 17 teams, while St Mary’s College Kisubi, also making their first international appearance, finished 31st out of 36 teams. These achievements reflect Uganda’s growing prowess in international school sports competitions.
The medals won by Amus College and Bukedea Comprehensive highlight the talent and dedication of young Ugandan footballers and underscore the potential for further success in the future.
