2019 Copa Coca Cola Football Championship:

  • Final: Jinja SS 1-3 St Mary’s SS Kitende
  • Third Place: Buddo SS 2-0 Standard High School, Zana
  • Most Valuable Player (MVP): Edrine Opaala Mukisa (Jinja SS)
  • Top Scorer: Lawrence Tezikya (Jinja SS) – 13 Goal

 

St. Marys Kitende, Jinja SS, Buddo SS and Standard high Zana are set to represent Uganda in the East African schools’ competitions that will be hosted in Tanzania later this year.

This is after St. Mary’s Kitende lifted their 9th Copa Coca Cola championship cup in a 3 – 1 victory over Jinja Secondary School in an enthralling encounter at Kakindu stadium in Jinja.

The game began at a barnstorming pace and some fans had barely taken to their seats when the centre referee cancelled a Jinja SS goal in the 4th minute for a foul play on the Kitende shot stopper but in the 15th minute, striker Laurence Tezikya sent the Jinja SS fans into delirium after scoring their only goal and his 13th of this tournament.

Halftime of the enticing finale ended 1-0 in favour of Jinja SS.

In the closing stanza, St Mary’s SS Kitende showed the Tiger’s character, clawing back into the game with a formidable spirited display.

Second half substitute Umar Kyebatala got the equalizer after Richard Basangwa’s initial effort had hit the cross bar.

In quick succession, Najib Yiga, one of the players who played at the 2019 U-17 AFCON finals in Tanzania made it 2-1 in a remarkable comeback.

Yiga had moments earlier replaced Charles Lwanga.

A few minutes later, Basangwa poked home the third.

At this moment, the rowdy and unbelieving crowd started to throw stones and other missiles onto the field of play which prompted the anti-riot police to retaliate with tear gas canisters into the stands.

Play was halted for close to 10 minutes as many fans raced off for dear lives, others covered their bodies under plastic chairs including the St Mary’s SS Kitende director Dr Lawrence Mulindwa and a large fraction raced away from the chaotic scene.

After calmness was restored, play resumed for 5 more minutes but referee Madanda hurriedly called for full time (with 13 more minutes to play) in a bid to save the situation that had run out of hand.

St Mary’s SS Kitende players and their countable fans celebrated the victory before the official closing ceremony where Coke officials, FUFA representatives and the tournament local organizing committee all condemned the violence act.

Like in 2007 when they triumphed in Jinja, St Mary’s SS Kitende returned to the podium to collect their 9th title, to equal Kibuli (under copa arrangement).

By and large, Kibuli SS remains the record winners with 11 titles to their name in the national post primary championships since inception in 1986.

Kololo SS has four championships (1986, 1987, 1988 and 1990).

Buddo SS and Lubiri and Old Kampala schools have two titles apiece.

The tournament is played by students under the age of 20 years.

Meanwhile, Buddo SS beat Standard High School, Zana 2-0 in the third place playoff to win the bronze medals.

A goal in either half by Emmanuel Loki and Joseph Kafumbe saw the 2018 winners at least return home with bronze medals.

This 27th Copa Coca Cola competition had 206 matches played, 297 yellow cards, 23 red cards and 554 goals scored.

The prize for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) was awarded to Mukisa Edwin Opala of St. Marys Kitende, the top scorer prize was won by Tezikya Lawrence of Jinja SS who scored 13 goals, he was also the top scorer in this tournament in 2017 and 2018.