Ugandan Referee Ivan Kintu Bayige Short-listed For 2025 Beach Soccer World Cup

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 1^st – 11^th 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.

Muwanguzi Cup Set For a Blockbuster Show As 12 Teams Are Confirmed

It is eight (8) days to the Muwanguzi beach soccer tournament but we are already sniffing the aura and excitement it is going to deliver.

The tournament has a reputation for being competitive and entertaining due to the relatively level playing field among its competitors.

This year, the fourth edition of the competition is going to be fierce.

Of the twelve (12) teams set to feature on 12^th May at FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru, only two are non-league sides.

In fact, only Swans Sports Club from Entebbe and Buliisa Sand Dragons BSC from Buliisa district are the outsiders but the rest are plying trade in the FUFA beach soccer league.

St. Lawrence BSC are the current cup holders, and given the fact that they have dominated the league for the last four seasons, other clubs see Muwanguzi as a viable option to win a silverware. This means teams give their all in the quest for glory.

List of teams:

Kampala City, St. Lawrence University, Buganda Royal Institute, Kampala Junior Team (KJT), Wolves, Mutoola, Grace Church, MS Sand Lions, Kiringente, Mengo Hill, Swans Sports Club and Buliisa Sand Dragons.

Toothless Mutoola Hits New Low As Kiringente Get Off The Mark

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.

Full results