NAMBOOLE – The 2018/19 StarTimes Uganda Premier League will officially kick-off on the 28th of September.
This was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon at a joint press briefing held at Mandela National stadium in Namboole.
“The 2018/19 league will kick-off on Friday, 28th September 2018, confirmed Uganda Premier League Chief Executive Officer, Bernard Bainamani at the press briefing.
“Before the season kicks-off, it will first be preceded by the Super Cup, a match that pits the previous season’s league winners and current Uganda Cup holders.
“This year’s Uganda Super cup will see 2017/18 league winners Vipers SC take on current Cup holders KCCA FC on the 22nd of September.
“The venue at which the game will take place is yet to be confirmed but as per the roles, it can’t be played at either St. Mary’s stadium or StarTimes stadium in Lugogo.
Bainamani also confirmed that fixture lists for the upcoming season have not been drawn yet but will be released by the end of next week.
“I know everyone is waiting to hear about the league fixtures for the upcoming season but due to a few challenges regarding club licensing, we are yet to release them but i can confirm to everyone that before next week ends, the fixtures will have been released, continued Bainamani.
“This year’s league will go ahead throughout January unlike in the past where we halted it in order to enable clubs undertake transfers.
“This has come about as a result of the just concluded FUFA Super 8 which has eaten up some of the time and because there is no continental action in January, we have decided to take advantage of that and have league games played.
Also speaking at the joint presser, StarTimes vice president-Marketing, Aldrine Nsubuga stressed that their sponsorship of the league does not cater for commercial club rights as it has been perceived by different individuals .
“StarTimes is here particular to use this opportunity to clarify on what exactly we acquired from FUFA, said Aldrine.
“There has been a misinterpretation regarding the deal that we signed with FUFA in regards to the rights we attained in the process.
“I can confirm that we acquired two unique rights from FUFA, one being the title rights and broadcast rights.
“For the record, StarTimes has not taken over commercial club rights or simply put, we are not the new sponsors of the 16 UPL clubs.
“The clubs have a right to commercially market and sell their products provided that they don’t sell to a direct competitor.
Earlier last month, StarTimes acquired broadcast and title rights for the league until 2028 in a deal worth a whopping $7.24 Million.
The deal is the biggest investment in Ugandan Sports history, surpassing the $3 Million that Sports Broadcasting had paid for the same rights earlier this year.
