The inaugural UHA Juniors Cup took place at the Lugogo Hockey grounds on the weekend of 27th to 28th January 2024, showcasing the budding talent of young hockey players under 19 years of age. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation with 6 teams competing in the men’s category and 4 teams in the ladies category, adding an extra layer of excitement to the tournament.

The tournament kicked off with player screenings on Saturday morning, ensuring fair competition among the young talents. Both the men’s and women’s categories followed a one-legged round-robin format, where the top two teams would face off in a final play-off.

The men’s category featured teams like Wananchi, Weatherhead, Kampala, Thunders, Rockets and Badgers, while the women’s category showcased Weatherhead, Wananchi HDF, Kampala, and Thunders.

Action commenced at 1 pm on Saturday, with Weatherhead securing a 1-0 victory against Badgers in the opening match. The day unfolded with over 10 fixtures, and several notable performances including Wananchi and Weatherhead leading the pack, while Badgers struggled to secure points in the men’s category whereas Weatherhead and Wananchi HDF dominated the women’s table, utilizing their familiarity with the Lugogo turf to secure crucial wins against Thunders and Kampala respectively.

Sunday brought a fresh wave of excitement, as teams aimed to qualify for the final playoff. In the men’s category, Wananchi maintained their stellar performance, winning all five games and securing a spot in the final playoff against Weatherhead.

Badgers, having learned from Saturday’s games, rebounded with a win against Thunders and a draw against Kampala, denting Kampala’s chances of making it to the final, impacting the final standings as well.

In the women’s category, after a draw against Thunders on Sunday morning, Kampala secured a crucial 1-0 victory against Weatherhead, earning themselves a spot in the play-off final against Wananchi HDF, who had won all three of their matches.

The women’s final between Wananchi HDF and Kampala was a thrilling encounter, with Wananchi HDF emerging victorious with a commanding 3-0 scoreline. Jolly Alimo scored a brace, while Nakato Janet, the tournament’s top scorer, netted the third goal.

The men’s final was equally intense, with Wananchi securing a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to Innocent Tumukunde’s goal from a penalty corner capping off an electrifying tournament filled with promising young talent and exciting matches.

The event concluded with an awarding ceremony, where each team received sticks from the Uganda Hockey Association to foster the development of the sport among young talents. The Most Valuable Players (MVPs) were also honored with brand new sticks, highlighting the commitment to nurturing and recognizing the rising stars of hockey.

The first edition of the UHA Juniors Cup provided a platform for young hockey players to showcase their skills and passion for the sport, setting the stage for future talent to emerge and flourish.