Four years ago, beach soccer was virtually an extinct species on the pearl of Africa land, Uganda.
Uganda Beach Soccer Association (UBSA) under the mandate of CAF, FUFA and FIFA was granted the autonomy to run and develop the game with the primary target of spreading it to the whole country in a record time possible.
Three years down the road, UBSA has been running a national beach soccer league – the first of its kind on the African continent.
“We started from scratch. Nobody knew about beach soccer in Uganda. Thanks to the respective stakeholders, the league is now actively running”, Anthony Tumwesigye, a beach soccer delegate attests to Kawowo Sports.
The Growth and Growth of Beach Soccer:
The Beach Soccer league action on the Lido beach sands is so thrilling.
The national beach soccer league is marking the 3rd straight year running. St Lawrence University and Kira Young beach soccer teams won the last two editions of the league.
“The simplicity of the game and its thrills has attracted a massive turn up of many players to enjoy beach soccer on the serenity of the fresh Lake Victoria waters at Lido” UBSA chairman, Deo Mutabazi reveals.
The league has been able to attract multitudes of players with a noticeable influx of footballers from the regional, Big league and the Uganda Premier League (UPL).
Elite players like Baker Lukooya, Brian Nkuubi, Yasser Mugerwa, Latif Saidi, Ashadu Bugembe, John Ravita, Sunday Mukiibi, Mathias Kigonya, Allan Katwe, Abdul Karim Alvaro, Phillip Rwezaula, Roch Somoka, Dougals Muganga, Steven Bengo, Ayub Kisaliita and many others are some of the products of the beach soccer.
Sponsorship Opportunities:
For the thrilling nature of the game, the national beach soccer league has been able to land a hefty sponsorship package of U.shs 300 M running for 2 years from Crown Beverages Limited under the Pepsi Brand.
“At Pepsi, we are committed to helping the game of beach soccer. We shall not stop at the league, but we are also targeting extending support to the national sand Cranes”, Timothy Luzinda, the Pepsi brand manager adds.
Entertainment:
Every time the league is played at the beach, fans are thrilled with the unending exhilaration.
The excitement ranging from the fans’ blind fold games in the sand during every half time breaks, the enticing dancing sexy cheer ladies, video games on the giant screens, swimming, music from the finest D.J’s as you taste the delicious fresh deep fried fish to add to the already rising adrenalin levels.
League Format:
The National Beach Soccer League is run under two groups; Hurriken and the Moonsoon.
Nkumba Select, Kira Young,St Lawrence, Ddalumba Richmonds, Braza Braza, Kayunga Town Council, KIU, Mutesa I Royal University and International University of East Africa are in Hurriken group.
The Moonsoon group has teams like Talented, Sand Pirates, Buwanika Bulls, YMCA, MUBS, Zaba Super Market, Stormers and Real Galacticals.
“The top four rated teams per group make the quarterfinals, from which semi finals and finals to determine the winner are played”, Mutabazi explains the format of play.
Competitions: Apart from the national league for the men, UBSA also runs an independent league for the women. “There is also a university and schools championship held every year with the corporate beach soccer held every December”, Mutabazi adds.
Uganda national beach soccer team, The Sand Cranes is set to participate in the AFCON 2015 Beach soccer championships that will take place in Seychelles come February next year.
“We are already compiling a pool of the best players from the league that will make the Sand Cranes” Hamza Jjunju, the national team coach tells Kawowo Sports.
Challenges:
The development of beach soccer has met several challenges whose urgent address would help accelerate its already impressive trend.
“We still call for more funding from the Government, the Federation and other corporate sponsors to help run the administrative and technical issues pertaining the game” Tumwesigye a FUFA beach soccer delegate stated.