Experienced Ugandan beach soccer referee Ivan Kintu Bayige is featuring on the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) referees shortlist from which the final names that will officiate at the 2025 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will be selected.
Seychelles will host this premier beach soccer biennial championship from its capital city – Victoria, from May 1st – 11th 2025.
Bayige (left) cautioning a coach during a FUFA beach soccer league game.
Bayige rose to the coveted rank of a FIFA beach soccer referee in 2015, and has since officiated at five Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (BSAFCON) finals (December 2016 – Nigeria, September 2018 – Egypt, October 2021 – Senegal, October 2022 – Mozambique and September 2024 – Egypt).
His officiating and game handling at continental competitions has been magnificent throughout, attracting appointments for even global beach soccer events – including some in Dubai.
FIFA has been taking note of his top notch performances, and he is now on the cusp of etching his name in Uganda’s history as the first Ugandan beach soccer referee to officiate at the world cup.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) will contribute five referees to the showpiece but has seven on the shortlist released by FIFA.
Bchir Hamdi from Tunisia, Ishimwe Cynthia (Burundi), Lamghaidar Driss (Morocco), Ndayisaba Ramadhani (Burundi), Ndiaye Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane (Senegal) and Siave Louis from Mauritius complete the pack of African referees on FIFA’s long list.
Far from their former selves, Mutoola BSC produced yet another horrible show, this time retreating home with the heads in their hands after losing two vital games on Sunday.
A season in which they have already been shy of their known high standards but scrapping unconvincing wins against nerveless opponents, Mutoola plumbed new depths as they miserably slumped to a 4-1 defeat at Kampala City and a 2-1 loss against Buganda Royal at FUFA technical centre in Njeru. It condemned the Sand Giants to their first defeats this campaign, they had never lost a game before Sunday albeit nearly being awful in the previous outings.
Although Steven Nyalimo scored for them, Paul Lule’s double and a goal each from Fredrick Ngalo and Paul Kato for Kampala City set the Sand Giants’ whipping session in motion, which opened the door for Buganda Royal to also have Salim Muwonge’s men for a meal.
It looked like a fluke when Solomon Zziwa drove Buganda Royal infront in the second period because by this time, Mutoola had missed chance after chance and had been favorites to find the first goal in the game before Zziwa shook the table.
Simon Peter Kijjo finally found his scoring feet when he scored the equalizer for his side, and a sigh of relief reigned in the dugout.
And as the game progressed, both teams looked contented to walk home with a point each. However, Mutoola’s hearts would be torn into pieces in the closing minutes of the game. Solomon Zziwa who had thrown the first jab, showed up again with the winner for Buganda Royal with just five seconds left on the clock to leave Mutoola wailing.
Kampala City reigned supreme in their second game as well, beating Kampala Junior Team (KJT) 5-3 to go back to the top of the tree with 21 points after seven games. Paul Kato struck a brace as Paul Lule, Ambrose Kigozi and Hussein Ssajjabbi scored to rescue their side from the claws of a hard fighting KJT. Jordan Ajuna (2) and Ashiraf Mugumira netted for the latter.
KJT however compensated the loss with a 6-1 win over strugglers Grace Church, their second victory of the season. Ashiraf Mugumira was the tormentor in chief, he scored four goals. Jordan Ajuna grabbed a brace while Jonah Munaai scored for Grace Church the only goal they managed in the game.
The happiest on the day were perhaps Kiringente who climbed from the base of the table to the sixth place following the 4-3 and 6-1wins against Mengo Hill and Grace Church respectively. Junior Kagezi scored a combined five goals, with a hat-trick coming in his team’s slim triumph over Mengo Hill. Marvin Mugerwa who scored three goals across the games had two against the church boys. The 6-1victory was then sealed by Hamuza Ssenoga’s strike and an own goal from Jonah Munaai.
It was a jam-packed FUFA beach soccer league weekend; seven games were played at the ameliorated FUFA technical centre beach soccer arena on Sunday. Paul Lule and Rica Byaruhanga dazzled as newbies Kampala City and record champions St Lawrence sealed crucial wins to open a three-point gap at the summit. It was not the same for Kiringente and Wolves however as they lost all their respective two fixtures in Njeru.
Paul Lule is the leading goal scorer with 12
Kampala City 11-1 Wolves
Comprising of well experienced players, Kampala City had a brilliant start to the outing – thanks to Paul Lule’s refined form. Lule, who featured once for his old club Buganda Royal last season, claimed five goals as his new side ran amok against the five commandos representing Wolves BSC. His goal tally is now at 12 in just two games. Paul Kato scored a hat-trick; Herbert Onyango grabbed a brace, while Sharif Opuuli – newly signed from Mutoola, also joined the scoring party to complete the rout. Farouk Kawuma could not allow them walkaway unbleached, he scored the consolation as Wolves got something to smile about.
St. Lawrence 7-3 MS Sand Lions
The Saints continued their excellent start to the campaign, defeating MS Sand Lions 7-3 with Rica Byaruhanga and Ronald Magwali scoring beauties that left tongues wagging, each had a brace. Brian Nkuubi scored a brace too as Baker Lukooya picked one. Byaruhanga then turned villain when he scored at the wrong end, gifting the ‘tiimu y’ekibuga’ a goal. Nigerian imports – Okollo Chinoso and Apamaku Boniface added on his strike but their efforts were simply not enough to change the course of the game.
Mutoola 3-2 Kiringente
It was a game of narrow margins and ultimately made Kiringente’s day start on a difficult note. Their goalkeeper Zephaniah Kyobwiki caught the eye of many beach soccer enthusiasts with more than eight point blank saves, including a Simon Peter Kijjo’s penalty kick save in the early exchanges. But Faizal Ssekiti eventually beat him to put Mutoola in the lead. Ashiraf Male showed up with a brace for Kiringente before Ssekiti completed his to level matters for the side coached by former Sand Cranes head coach – Salim Muwonge. The battle for the points continued until Kijjo paid up his penalty miss with a winner in the third period to consign Kiringente to the first defeat on the day.
Kiringente 0-1 Kampala City
In their second game, Kiringente were even rockier – defended gallantly and made the contest a physical one. Kyobwiki was again the man to watch between the sticks as he denied Kampala City on several occasions. But they had their hearts broken when Sharif Opuuli snaked in to score the winner for his side. This meant Kiringente went home empty handed despite their energetic performances.
Mengo Hill 4-8 Buganda Royal
The Mengo battle, brewed in Mengo – Kampala and fought in Buikwe, was a pleasure to watch. Mengo Hill, playing their first season in the league and consisting of school boys without any experience on the sand, produced an attacking game that made Buganda Royal sweat blood though they won at the end.
With a few minutes in, Mengo Hill took the lead through Patrick Ssedyabane, he then struck again to give his side a two goal cushion. Joel Mugga got a double to level matters for the ‘Abambowa’ but Lewis Evans Ninsiima arrowed in a wonder to restore Mengo Hill’s lead afore to Ssedyabane completing his hat-trick. However, they ran out of steam to allow Dalton Ssewanyana, Shafik Kyalula and Solomon Zziwa score two goals each in the final period to win it all for Buganda Royal.
Wolves 2-6 St. Lawrence
St. Lawrence took no prisoners against Wolves, beating them 6-3 to go home with maximum points. Baker Lukooya starred with a hat-trick. Sulaiman Ochero, Jonathan Kikonyogo and Rica Byaruhanga were the other net finders for SLAU. Farouk Kawuma was once again on the score sheet for Wolves, this time with a brace.
MS Sand Lions 4-1 KJT
The ‘tiimu y’ekibuga’ finally had a reason to smile. They won 4-1 against the youthful Kampala Junior Team (KJT) in the game that closed the thrilling outing. Yinusa Mufutau and Osman Kemba Arafat combined to produce the four goals that won the game for MS Sand Lions. KJT scored their consolation through Ashiraf Mugumira.
After three matches, Kampala City remained on top of the table with nine points, same as St. Lawrence but they lead the proceedings courtesy of a superior goal difference of 23, six ahead of the university side.
The action will resume on 28th January, with seven fixtures at FUFA technical centre.
Uganda’s premier beach soccer league is set to resume this Sunday, the 14th of January, with Mutoola BSC and Kiringente serving the first match to be played at FUFA technical centre since the torrential rains put the league on hold in late November.
Wolves, still in search for their first season’s win, will play Kampala City who is riding high at the top of the pile after one outing.
The likely intense match between St. Lawrence University and MS Sand Lions will spring in next before the Mengo derby between Mengo Hill and Buganda Royal takes center stage.
Kiringente, in their second engagement on the day, will test Kampala City as Wolves pray for mercy against St. Lawrence.
Sunday’s action concludes with MS Sand Lions taking on Kampala Junior Team (KJT) at 5pm.
Kampala City has three points, same as St. Lawrence, MS Sand Lions, Buganda Royal, KJT and Mutoola but they lead the table because of a superior goal difference of 12.
