Defending champions St Julian High School Mukono have kicked off their 2025 USSSA National Boys U-20 Football Championship campaign with a spirited 3-1 comeback victory over Garama Secondary School in Group A action at BKC Demo Primary School playground.
The title holders were given an early scare when Garama SS, representing the Rwenzori region, stunned them with a 20th-minute opener.
However, St Julian, under the guidance of head coach Felix Kawooya Ssekabuuza, rallied back to level matters before the break, showcasing their championship mettle.
The equaliser came in the dying minutes of the first half, setting the stage for a dominant second period.
Two more goals in the final 45 minutes sealed a comfortable win and a strong start to their title defence.
This year’s USSSA tournament is being hosted across various venues in Ngora District, with intense action rolling out after days of strict academic and age verification processes.
Participating schools began arriving last Friday, and the final verifications concluded by Tuesday morning before the first round of matches kicked off at 2 PM.
Elsewhere, in Group G, Nyamitanga Secondary School registered a confident 2-0 win over Jinja Comprehensive at the St Aloysius PTC 1 ground, thanks to goals from Tushabe Mark and Baluku Jamaldin.
In Group C, Kichwamba High School were edged 1-0 by Standard High School Zzana, with Lutaaya Benon finding the net for the Kampala-based side.
Group F action at Ngora Girls Secondary School saw St Kagwa Bushenyi beat Lira Town College 1-0 in a tightly contested encounter, while in Group D, Wagwa High School from Masaka secured a 2-0 victory over Nabumali High School at Ngora High School 1.
In another fixture, Bugisu High School edged Notre Dame High School 2-1 at St Aloysius PTC 2 in a match that saw both sides create numerous chances but lacked efficiency in front of goal.
With the tournament still in its infancy, early results have already hinted at the high competitiveness expected throughout the championship.
