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Ahead of the 2023 FUFA Drum tournament, the FUFA executive has introduced and approved a new playing format.
Ahead of the 2023 FUFA Drum tournament, the FUFA executive has introduced and approved a new playing format.
The tournament played by 16 Provinces since it's introduction in 2018, will have major changes in the way it's played.
"Whereas there had been desire to play the FUFA Drum in the original version with 61 matches being played, a new version will be introduced with 46 matches which is an improvement on the last edition where 30 matches were played,” said FUFA Deputy CEO-Football, Decolas Kizza, via the FUFA website.
In the new format, last edition’s best eight performing provinces will get straight byes to the next round, and won't sweat in the first.
Then, the last eight Province teams will be; "randomly paired to play home and away (eight matches)," the communication confirmed.
The four winners on aggregate at this stage, will then; "join the other eight that received byes to make 12 province teams."
"The 12 Province teams will be seeded according to performance into three pots and draw of lots conducted to have four groups (A, B, C, D) of 3 teams each."
At this stage, teams in each group will play each other on home and away basis (24 matches).
From here, the best two teams in each group will progress to quarter finals (A1 v B2, B1 v A2, C1 v D2, D1 v C2) on home and away (eight matches).
At this point, "winners progress to semifinals to be played home and away. The losers after the semis will play for third place, while the winners will play for the top prize in a single match affair, unlike in the past edition where the final had two legs.
The WestNile province is the defending champion, while Acholi and Buganda clinched it in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
In 2020 and 2021, the competition wasn't held due to the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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