It has been a very interesting start to the 2023/24 FUFA beach soccer league, and no sooner are we over the thrills of the second outing than we are into another full set of exciting fixtures this Sunday of 28th January at FUFA technical centre in Njeru.
Kampala City currently top the pile with three wins from three, defending champions St. Lawrence are not far from their heels, MS Sand Lions, Mutoola and Buganda Royal have maintained the chase, the latter with some serious questions to answer.
Ivan Kulika’s high flying Kampala City should make it four wins in as many games when they face fellow rookies Mengo Hill in what is expected to be a lopsided affair. Led by experienced guards Paul Lule, Paul Kato and Douglas Muganga, Kampala City has fashioned three wins with ease, with 12 points and a goal difference of 23 tagged to them, and will be aiming to add to their impressive goal tally this season.
Should they wield the sword they unleashed against Grace Church and Wolves, Mengo Hill will be in for a baptism of fire. The youthful side has lost all its three matches so far and has conceded a disappointing 22 goals at this stage of the season.
Their Sunday fixtures all look to be unforgiving anyway as they also have to face Mutoola BSC. The Sand Giants (Mutoola) virtually see this tie as very much winnable and a morale booster given that they have the stubborn MS Sand Lions on schedule as well. Salim Muwonge’s men have been unconvincing but have labored to craft two victories in their two games played, and they have the chance to level points with leaders Kampala City and SLAU if they can take all the six points match day three presents.
Defending champions St. Lawrence will also be eying a fourth league win when they take on a tricky Kiringente team. On the table, they sit in the second place, just behind Kampala City on goal difference. Kiringente is 7th and without a point in three matches but is one of the most unpredictable sides, with the tag of giant killers suiting them well. Rarely show up against mid-table counterparts but often come to the party when the big boys come across.
With their rebuilding process still on try and error, new looking Buganda Royal have surprisingly forked out two wins in as many games this campaign and are lying pretty well in the fourth position with six points but their early groove faces an acid test at MS Sand Lions who are third.
MS Sand Lions, coached by the outspoken and buoyant Jamil Mukiibi Ssemwogerere, equally have two wins but with a defeat having played one more game than their opponents. Their ranks include Nigerians – Okollo Chinoso, Yinusa Mufutao and veteran Geoffrey Akabwai who is keen to roll back his old beach soccer days.
They are expected to go all out in this one owing to the fact that Mutoola will be in their way later that very day.
Full Fixtures
Sunday 28th Jan, 2024
Buganda Royal Vs MS Sand Lions – 11am
Mutoola Vs Mengo Hill – 12pm
St Lawrence Vs Kiringente – 1pm
Grace Church Vs Wolves – 2pm
KJT Vs Buganda Royal – 3pm
MS Sand Lions Vs Mutoola – 4pm
Mengo Hill Vs Kampala City – 5pm
