The National Pool League is set to return after a one-year hiatus, with the men’s league resuming on August 4, 2024, and the women’s league kicking off a week later on August 11, 2024.
This decision follows productive meetings between League Club Leaders and the Pool Association of Uganda (PAU) Executive Committee.
The return of the league is highly anticipated by fans and players alike, following a year without regular competition due to a disagreement between the PAU and clubs.
Although an end-of-year tournament was held in 2023, the full league season’s return is a welcome development.
This year’s league, supported by a two-year sponsorship deal with Nile Breweries, will feature 16 men’s teams and 8 women’s teams vying for national glory.
The league is expected to conclude early next year.
The men’s league boasts a total prize pool of Shs16 million, with the champions receiving Shs6 million and the remaining Shs10 million distributed among the top five teams.
The women’s league has a prize pool of Shs10 million, with Shs4 million awarded to the winning team. Additionally, all participating clubs will receive Shs3 million in facilitation funds.
In a move towards gender equality, the league will now require all women’s teams to field five starters, mirroring the men’s format.
Another crucial change is that league games will now commence at 5pm, instead of the previous 3pm start. According to PAU, this change allows for greater participation from fans who may be working during earlier hours.
Teams must confirm their participation by July 26, 2024, and the competitions committee will inspect all league venues by August 2, 2024, to ensure they meet the minimum requirements.
Key Dates:
– Men’s League kick-off: August 4, 2024
– Women’s League kick-off: August 11, 2024
– League registration deadline: July 26, 2024
– Submission of player contracts: August 2, 2024
