Uganda Martyrs Lubaga reclaimed the women beach soccer festival title on Saturday to remain the only side to have won the competition following their triumph last year.
They showed some outstanding nerve to come from a goal down to beat Nansana Ladies 5-3 in a thrilling final contest at Mutoola Resort Beach in Mukono.
To reach this stage, Uganda Martyrs beat Gomba Ladies 6-3 in the semi final, while Nansana Ladies eased past Kampala Junior Team 6-0 at the same stage to set up a repeat of last year’s final.
During the hugely contested affair, Nansana drew the first blood and opened the scoring through Justin Najjuko, but Rogers Nkugwa’s girls soon started to rediscover their former selves and levelled the game through Fatuma Nakasumba’s penalty goal before the end of the first period.
Soon Nansana’s problems started creeping in as their only trusted goalkeeper Daphine Nyayenga was forced off because of a back problem and her place between the sticks was filled by Stella Namisango, an out field player.
As expected, Uganda Martyrs hit three to lead 4-1 at the end of the second period as Catherine Nagadya scored twice and Nakasumba added another immediately after the stand in goalkeeper came on.
Nyayenga returned to the fray in the last period after receiving treatment and Nansana started to look balanced and motivated, and almost came back in the game when Cissy Nantongo and Namisango struck goals for their side but Nagadya rose to the occasion to complete her hat trick and seal the victory for her side.
In the classification match, Gomba Ladies defeated KJT 4-1 to win the bronze medals.
The champion will receive two million Uganda shillings (2,000,000/=) as the prize money for winning the competition on top of the trophy, Nansana Ladies will earn one million and five hundred thousand shillings (1,500,000/=) for finishing second while Gomba will receive one million Uganda shillings (1,000,000/=) for being the third placed team.
Catherine Nagadya scooped the topscorer’s award after netting fifteen goals and she was also voted as the most valuable player of the festival.
Daphine Nyayenga raced to the best goalkeeper award, and they will each get a cash prize of two hundred thousand shillings (200,000/=).
Other individual award winners were Leticia Nakyeyune of KJT and Rogers Nkugwa of Uganda Martyrs as the best young player and best coach respectively. Debutants – Nile Queens from Jinja won the fair play award.
Fufa second vice president Mr. Darius Mugoye graced the festival as the guest of honor, and he was flanked by Uganda Beach Soccer Association chairman Mr. Deo Mutabazi and Uganda Women Football Association chairperson Magret Kubingi, alongside other dignitaries.
Summary
Champion – Uganda Martyrs
Runners up – Nansana Ladies
Third placed team – Gomba Ladies
Awards
Best coach – Rogers Nkugwa (Uganda Martyrs)
Best young player – Leticia Nakyeyune (Kampala Junior Team)
Top scorer – Catherine Nagadya (15 goals)
MVP – Catherine Nagadya (Uganda Martyrs)
Best goalkeeper – Daphine Nyayenga (Nansana Ladies)
Fair play award – Nile Queens
This was the second edition of the women beach soccer festival and it is organised at the end of every calendar year by the Uganda Beach Soccer Association (UBSA) in conjunction with the Uganda Women Football Association (UWFA).