Nebbi District has written a new chapter in grassroots football development after successfully hosting its maiden FUFA Odilo Under-14 Primary Schools Tournament, bringing together 12 primary schools from Nebbi Municipality to showcase the district's emerging football talent.
The FUFA Odilo U14 competition, launched in 2020 to identify and nurture young footballers across Uganda, is now in its sixth edition. While the tournament has been staged in other districts over the years, this was the first time it was held in Nebbi under the Nebbi District Football Association (DFA).
The tournament attracted impressive participation, with young players displaying exceptional talent, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the competition. The district champions ( Cornerstone Nursery and Primary School) will now represent Nebbi at the regional stage.
Speaking during the event, Nebbi DFA Competitions Chairman, Mr. Owachgiu Alfred, explained that only schools within Nebbi Municipality participated because of financial constraints.
"We started with schools within the municipality because of limited funding. Our hope is that next year we shall expand the tournament to include schools from across the district so that more talented children get the opportunity to showcase their abilities," Owachgiu said.
He also appealed to parents to support and invest in their children's football dreams, emphasizing that early talent identification can open doors to greater opportunities in the future.
Meanwhile, Nebbi DFA Chairman Bithola Ocukune Francis praised all the participating schools, saying the tournament had laid a strong foundation for school football in the district.
"Every school that participated is a winner. You have laid the foundation for school football in Nebbi. You have shown our pupils that talent, teamwork, and discipline matter more than the final score," he said.
Bithola thanked the 12 participating schools, coaches, head teachers, the Municipal Sports Office, and the municipal leadership for ensuring the success of the inaugural competition. He noted that the district champions would carry Nebbi's hopes to the regional competition.
Looking ahead, the chairman pledged to expand the tournament in future editions by involving more schools and sub-counties while strengthening partnerships to make the competition bigger and more inclusive.
"We shall involve more schools, more sub-counties, and strengthen partnerships to make the ODILO competition bigger, better, and more inclusive for every child in Nebbi," he added.
He concluded by urging pupils to remain disciplined, stay focused on their education, and continue training, reminding them that football can create life-changing opportunities.
The successful hosting of the maiden FUFA Odilo U14 Tournament marks a major milestone for football development in Nebbi and provides a platform for the district's brightest young talents to pursue their dreams on the national stage.
