Following a two-year hiatus because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the annual Corporate league officially got underway at the Kyambogo Cricket grounds in Kampala on Sunday, February 27, 2022.
A mammoth gathering of different company brands with their advertising pull up and tear drop banners littered the vast playgrounds.
It was time once again to feel the joy and thrill of small sided football, merry make and network as well as the different personalities from all walks of life associated freely.
Newly appointed National Council of Sports (NCS) chairperson Ambrose Tashobya represented the State minister of sports Hon. Denis Hamson Obua as chief guest.
In his message delivered by Tashobya, Hon. Obua urged on the essence of fronting corporate organizations for their enormous role in supporting the growth and development of sports in the country.
To that effect, Hon. Obua also promised a sports breakfast with the companies’ Managing Directors and top decision makers in the nearby future.
“The role of different corporate organizations in the development of sports cannot be under-looked. They have helped directly in the growth of the games and associations alike. We shall have a sports breakfast meeting with the MD’s soon” Tashobya delivered Hon. Obua’s message.
The secretary of the NCS, Dr. Bernard Patrick Ogwel was overwhelmed by the response of the companies participating in the Corporate League after the forced COVID-19 break.
He emphasized the value of the Corporate League through networking and exercising of bodies for the corporates.
“I am humbled to be here at the opening. The Corporate League has been beneficial in a number of ways as providing a platform for corporates to exercise and network as well” Dr. Ogwel remarked.
Corporate League first ever female chairperson Diana Mutu Akello vowed to carry on the legacy of this league that clocked 20 years in 2022.
“My working team shall work together to uphold the legacy of the Corporate League. We want to rally as many companies as possible to come on board. We are living in COVID-19 times and therefore the SOP’s shall remain to be followed to the dot” Akello, who works at Nile Breweries Limited noted.
In some of the early games played, the big game between sister companies CBS radio and BBS Telefaina ended goalless.
BBS Telefaina beat Mogo and DHL by an identical 2-0 score-line in the other games.
Former Uganda Cranes international Mike Mutyaba scored three of BBS Telefaina’s goals with Mike Mwanje scoring the other.
Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCCA fell in three games against Uganda Coffee Development Association (UCDA) by 1-0, Movit (1-0) and Centenary Bank (2-0) before drawing with Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
Centenary Bank was also ruthless in the 5-0 humiliation of Platinum Credit before falling 1-0 to URA.
Telecommunications company MTN Uganda shared the spoils with Vision Group and CBS Radio overcame Exclusive Media in another match among other games.
The next outing will be held during the last Sunday of March 2022.