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What that means is that for the 2023/24 season, the second division will be referred to as the BetPawa Big League, with the Futsal league now taking the name BetPawa Futsal League.
The Federation of Uganda Football Assocaition [FUFA] and gaming powerhouse BetPawa have announced a USD 320,000 [approx. UGX 1.19 billion] partnerships for three of its top comeptitions.
As revealed by Pusle Sports on Tuesday, the partnership will cover three of the top competitions The FUFA Drum, FUFA Big League and the Futsal Super League.
The partnership will cover the 2023/24 football season, and will see BetPawa take over the commercial and naming rights of both the Big League and the Futsal League.
What that means is that for the 2023/24 season, the second division will be referred to as the BetPawa Big League, with the Futsal league now taking the name BetPawa Futsal League.
Ntoudi Mouyelo, Managing Director at Mchezo Africa which owns BetPawa, expressed his excitement, stating, "We are thrilled to collaborate with FUFA in accelerating the growth of Ugandan football.”
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“This partnership is a significant investment in our local players and teams, and together, we can enhance the experience for fans and players alike.”
“We are creating more opportunities for all those involved in Ugandan football," he added.
The Big League has been lacking a title sponsor, since FUFA and StarTimes shelved their earlier partnership that was extended from the Uganda Premier League.
While the Uganda Premier League’s sponsorship with StarTimes was anticipated to cascade down to the second division, the latter's decreasing involvement has opened the door for new opportunities.
According to the breakdown of the package, the Big League will earn USD 150,000 [approx. UGX 560 million] similar to the FUFA Drum who will earn UGX 560 million, while the Futsal League will earn USD 20,000 [UGX 70 million].
The 2023/24 StarTimes FUFA Big League season will kick off on Thursday, 21st September, FUFA has confirmed.
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The league will comprise fifteen teams and will run concurrently with the Uganda Premier League and climax on Sunday 19th May 2024.
Unlike last season, the 2023/24 league will be played mainly on Thursdays and Sundays but will stretch to other days because of the television schedule.
Booma FC and Jinja North United will kick off the season on September 21st at the Masindi Stadium.
The highlight of matchday one will be the eagerly awaited derby as Mbale Heroes host Kataka at the Mbale City Stadium.
The FUFA Drum, an inter-province football bonanza, has played a pivotal role in popularizing the sport across Uganda.
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Its impressive commercial trajectory is evident in its partnerships with iconic brands like MTN, Nile Special, and Rock Boom.
The tournament's most recent edition witnessed the West Nile Province clinch victory with a 3-2 aggregate win over Lango Province.
Buganda Province and Acholi Province had reigned supreme in the 2018 and 2019 editions, respectively.
The Futsal Super League (FSL), which has been making waves since its inception in 2016.
This league, overseen by the Futsal Association of Uganda, has been steadily growing in popularity and stature.
As the FSL gears up for its eighth season, the support from BetPawa is set to further elevate the league's status.
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