Drama Rocks USSSA Bugisu Finals: Two Schools Penalized Over Player Fraud
The USSSA Bugisu Zone football tournament has taken an unexpected turn following a dramatic ruling by the zone’s Disciplinary Committee. The highly anticipated finals were thrown into disarray after two prominent schools, Mbale Progressive and Nkoma Secondary School, were penalized for fielding ineligible players.
The controversy began when Mbale Progressive School lodged a formal petition accusing Nkoma SS of using a fraudulent player in the tournament. The complaint was filed just hours before Nkoma SS was set to take on Bugisu High School in the final match at Mbale Stadium on Sunday, sparking tension and uncertainty among players, officials, and fans.
However, after thorough investigations, the disciplinary committee not only dismissed Mbale Progressive’s petition but also discovered that the school itself had committed a more serious violation. The committee found that Mbale Progressive had fielded an impersonator—a player who was not a legitimate student of the school—leading to a one-year suspension from all USSSA-organized competitions.
Nkoma SS was not spared either. Although their petition was rejected, the committee determined that the school had failed to disclose essential information about their player’s eligibility. School officials claimed that the player’s documents were locked away in an inaccessible room, a defense the committee found unconvincing. As a result, Nkoma SS was disqualified from the ongoing tournament.
With both teams ruled out, the final match lineup has been restructured. Bugisu High School, originally set to face Nkoma SS, will now compete against Nabumali High School in the championship final. The venue and date for the new final are yet to be confirmed by tournament organizers.
In the meantime, attention now shifts to the third-place playoff, where St. Joseph SS will battle Divine College. This match is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
The latest developments have sent shockwaves through the local football community, raising concerns about player verification and integrity in school sports. Tournament officials have vowed to tighten regulations moving forward to prevent similar incidents in future competitions..
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