The StarTimes Uganda Premier League has released the statistical report in the just-concluded 2023/24 season, that saw SC Villa emerge victorious for the first time in 20 years, and Busoga United, Gaddafi and Arua Hill relegated.
The report focused on areas like table standings, goald scored per game, top scorers, players with the most assists, club clean sheets, average age of players, most utilised players, among others.
The statistical report also revealed the teams that fielded the youngest and oldest squads in the season.
Topping the list of the youngest teams is SC Villa, who were the eventual champions of the league. According to the data, SC Villa had an average squad age of just 22.72 years.
Their 32-player roster featured a significant number of youthful athletes, with 19 players aged 21-25 and 8 players aged 16-20.
This youthful approach paid dividends for Villa, as they were able to clinch the league title with their dynamic and energetic squad. It is important to note that the club had no players between the ages of 31 and 40.
Other teams that fielded relatively young squads include Wakiso Giants, with an average age of 23.59 years, and KCCA, with an average age of 23.64 years
Notably, Vipers also fielded a fairly young squad that included 3 players between the ages of 16 and 18, and an average squad age of 25.11.
In stark contrast, Maroons fielded the oldest team in the league, with an average age of 26.90 years among its 30 players.
Their roster included a notable presence of experienced professionals, with 14 players aged 26-30 and 8 players in the 31-35 age range.
League debutants Kitara and NEC also fielded old teams, with the former fielding 14 players, and the latter 17 players between ages 26 and 30.
The league-wide average age of players stands at 24.96 years, indicating a generally youthful composition across the competition.
The emphasis on youth development in the league is a clear strategy adopted by many clubs basing on the statistics.
The success of SC Villa, who were able to win the title with their youthful squad, serves as a testament to the benefits of investing in young talent.
Meanwhile, Vipers and KCCA fielded the most number of players, with the Venoms and the Kasasiro Boys fielding 36 players each. URA fielded the least number of players with 29.
The overall number of players fielded by StarTimes Uganda Premier League teams last season was 521, including 56 goalkeepers, 161 defenders, 189 midfielders and 115 fowards, and 502 of these were used.