Category: Sand cranes

FUFA beach soccer league action returned over the weekend, and delivered thrilling matches and impressive individual displays at the Bamboo gardens beach soccer arena – Kasanje, on Sunday.

Joseph Ssendi scored six goals as Buganda Royal eased to three points, while defending champions Kampala City survived minnows Grace Church by just a whisker.

Mengo Hill regained a winning feeling on their second appearance of the day, against Muteesa 1 Royal University, as MUBS came second best against Mutoola.

Buganda Royal 6-1 Mengo Hill

Buganda Royal had been underperforming before Sunday’s game, with their offensive line relatively blunt and their defence one of the leakiest in the division.

For this game, they were unflagging in the attack as if their lives depended on it. Their attitude and energy were top-notch, and they went for the kill early – scoring in every period with Joseph Ssendi the architect in chief of the onslaught as they grabbed their second win of the season. He scored all the six goals to take his goal count to eight.

Even though Christopher Ntumwa managed to pull one  back for Mengo Hill, they couldn’t find their way back into the game, as Buganda Royal maintained control of it all the time.

Grace Church 3-4 Kampala City

Kampala City is one of the biggest forces in Uganda’s beach soccer apparently. By large, Grace Church is inferior to them given the gulf in quality and squad depth between the two sides. However, the game on Sunday didn’t do any justice to the gulf we are talking about.

Kampala City came into this encounter with a depleted squad, presenting only four players (Rogers Omedwa – goalkeeper, Hassan Luboyera – defender, and forwards – Paul Kato and Ambrose Kigozi) for the game, which gave Grace Church a mirage of hope.

The church boys capitalized on their numerical advantage to draw the first blood through Jeremiah Kibirige, with Kalungi Hamza doubling their lead in the second period.

At this moment, the defending champions were looking jaded, and clueless, while their coaches Ivan Kulika and Geoffrey Akabwai wore a bewildered look on their faces. Their team manager Tonny Ssebaggala was also seen confused with his head in his hands.

They however regrouped and came back a changed side in the last 12 minutes. They began to play with precision, with Hassan Luboyera pulling one back for his side. Ambrose Kigozi then scored twice to give Kampala City the lead for the first time in the game, with five minutes left on the clock.

Grace Church buoyantly responded through Hamza Kalungi who locked the game at 3-3 to stir excitement around the Bamboo gardens, at least for the neutrals, as they looked like they could push for a winner or hang on for their first point of the campaign. However, they were undone by a late Jonathan Mwanawangu own goal that gifted Kampala City the precious win, and a place at the top of the table.

Mutoola 2(5)-2(4) MUBS

As the odds suggested, the game proved to be closely contested between the two. While both sides made several attempts to win the match, the contest remained tight and tied even after extra time. But Mutoola edged it in the penalty shootout 5-4 to walk home with a point. Paul Nsenge and Simon Peter Kijjo scored for Mutoola, while Malik Bingana and Stuart Magumba netted for MUBS in regulation time.

Mengo Hill 4-2 Muteesa 1 Royal University

In the last game on the day, Mengo Hill subdued Muteesa 1 Royal University with a 4-2 beating. Mark Jordan Ssekyanzi scored a hat-trick, while Salim Mugerwa also registered on the score sheet for Mengo. Isham Kibirige, and Rajab Aidid found the consolations for the University side.

Looking Ahead.

Match day six of the FUFA Beach Soccer League will be played on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at Bunjako beach in Buwama.

Kampala City will take on Muteesa 1 Royal University, MUBS will play St Lawrence University, while Grace Church will face Mutoola BSC.

Current table standings:

1 Kampala City – 12 points

2 MUBS – 10 points

3 Mutoola – 8 points

4 St. Lawrence – 6 points

5 Buganda Royal – 6 points

6 Mengo Hill – 6 points

7 Muteesa – 3 points

8 Grace Church – 0 points

Leading goal scorers:

1 Ambrose Kigozi (Kampala City) – 10 goals

2 Joseph Ssendi (Buganda Royal) – 8 goals

3 Oscar Ssendege (Mutoola) – 4 goals.

Pure excitement, belters, and jaw-dropping action to rock Bamboo gardens beach soccer arena in Kasanje – Wakiso as season 2025/26 of Uganda’s premier beach soccer competition – the FUFA Beach Soccer League resumes this weekend.

The competition broke off for Christmas, and New Year festivities on December 7, and returns this Sunday of February 1, 2026 with four classic fixtures.

Two unbeaten sides – third placed Mutoola BSC and early pace setters MUBS will confront each other in a titanic clash that could alter the top of the table.

Currently occupying the base of the log, Grace Church will continue their chase for their first points this campaign, but for this particular outing, they have to beseech God for divine powers to prevail in their favour against another unbeaten power house and defending champions Kampala City.

Buganda Royal will face Mengo Hill before the latter returns to the sand to play against Muteesa 1 Royal University.

After four rounds of play, MUBS leads the standings with 10 points. On their heels is Kampala City who sit in the second place with 9 points. Mutoola occupies the third position with seven points, and a game in hand.

Ambrose Kigozi of Kampala City is the leading goal scorer with eight goals. Oscar Ssendege of Mutoola follows him with four goals. Sharif Opuuli (Kampala City), Lukyamuzi Paul (St. Lawrence University), Brian Katete (MUBS), and Denis Reagan (Muteesa 1 Royal University) all have three goals each.

Match Day Five Fixtures:

Buganda Royal Vs Mengo Hill – 1 pm

Grace Church Vs Kampala City – 2 pm

Mutoola Vs MUBS – 3 pm

Mengo Hill Vs Muteesa 1 Royal University – 4 pm

Venue: Bamboo gardens beach soccer arena.

Table standings

Prison Ladies successfully defended their end of year women beach soccer title with imposing displays on Sunday when they won three games at the Samaki beach in Busabala. It’s their second crown on the bounce.

The tournament attracted five teams – Lubiri She Falcons, She Maroons, KJT, Prison Ladies, and Makindye Ssabaggabo. It was played on a single round robin format – three points were awarded for a win, one point for a draw and none for a defeat, with the team with the most points at the end of the cycle winning the trophy.

When the action began, Prison Ladies defeated Makindye 1-0. They made it two wins in as many games with another hard fought 1-0 victory against KJT.

They also got the better of She Falcons in their third game before they held their sister club – She Maroons to a barren stalemate to ascend to the top of the table unbeaten, and with 10 points after four matches.

Debutants – She Falcons finished the tournament in the second place with eight points. KJT finished third, She Maroons settled for the fourth position, while Makindye occupied the base of the table, with four, three, and two points respectively.

Chairman of the Uganda Beach Soccer Association (UBSA) competitions committee Benard Mukasa was the guest of honour at the awarding function, and presented the trophy to the winners.

The end of year women beach soccer festival is an annual beach soccer tournament for women, and it is played at the end of every calendar year. This was the fourth edition.

A football administration and management course level one (FAMACOI) held at Buganda Royal Institute was successfully concluded on Saturday and 45 new football administrators have been certified.

Uganda Beach Soccer Association (UBSA) together with FUFA organised the three day course which attracted participants from; all the eight FUFA football regions, and neighbouring countries – Kenya and South Sudan.

The class included; Lady Doves chief executive officer – Ssanyu Consolate, Buhimba United Saint’s coach – Madara Sulait, head of beach soccer in South Sudan – Achuil Dot Ador, and Shahib Shahib Said from Kenya.

It also had referees – Nakitto Marex Nkumbi and Ashiraf Magoola, Sand Cranes player – Sharif Opuuli, and veteran sports journalists; Stephen L Mayanja of UBC and Kanakulya Rajab Bogere of CBS FM.

Speaking at the closing function, the FUFA 2^nd Vice President – Dr. Taibu Azah, who was the chief guest, re-affirmed FUFA’s commitment to educating its stakeholders and also implored the participants to pursue more knowledge in order to improve themselves as administrators, and the football industry at large.

“Success comes to a prepared mind. If you don’t push yourself to acquire knowledge, you’re disadvantaging yourself. Therefore, I strongly congratulate you for this particular achievement that you have got.”

“I want to believe that for the last two days, you have had a lot of reflections, engagements and training, and you have learnt from each other.”

“And as we end this course today, I want to re-affirm the commitment of FUFA towards development and enhancing capacity of our stakeholders. Knowledge is power, and knowledge drives the world. We are therefore committed to building the capacities of our administrators, footballers, and all the stakeholders out there.”

“We congratulate you for this milestone and we pray that this is not the end but we move towards FAMACOII, FAMACOIII, and also try to explore the different courses in football administration that are being offered regionally, and internationally because we shall be there to support you.”

“You are what your mind is. You can’t be what your mind is not. It’s your mind that will determine what you will become because you cannot be what you don’t know.”

“So, you have to expand your knowledge every single day beyond the FAMACO1 you have got.”

“I thank you for the three days you have been here, and let me hope the knowledge you have gained benefits football and the country at large.”

Dr. Azah said modern football is a business, and it’s this business that literally drives the ball on the pitch.

“Modern football goes beyond thinking about where it is right now. Football is a business, and since it’s a business, you as administrators must be ready to grow the business because it’s the business that drives the balls on the pitch.”

“Without the money, without the business, without the sponsorship, without the proper governance and management, the balls on the pitch will fail.”

“For us we take this seriously, and I encourage you to look for knowledge, I encourage you to look for opportunities which opportunities are not easily found but they’re sought for. You have to seek them because they will not come to you.”

She also applauded UBSA for organising such a knowledge enriching course.

“Let me in this spirit thank the Uganda Beach Soccer Association (UBSA) for leading this cause. You have led by example and we don’t take this for granted.”

List of Participants:

Kato Raymond, Katasi Alice, Naguya Jovana Clement, Kagimu Derrick Steven, Kanakulya Rajab Bogere, Betty Bagire, Ssanyu Consolate, Busobozibwe Joseph, Matsiko Permed, Nakitto Marex Nkumbi, Kinyera Stephens, Wasswa Tonny, Mukisa Desire, Mbishinzimana Allan, Turi Frank Sheyne Manzi, Kisekka Kizito, Emmanuel Ssebina Ronald, Opolot Moses, Kalanzi Gideon Mutoola, Nagasha Shallie, Achuil Dot Ador, Opuuli Sharifu, Jjumba Julius, Madara Sulait, Namaganda Lillian, Nakanwagi Dorothy, Stafford Akatukunda, Wamala Edwin, Somoka Roch, Ssenfuma Timothy, Stephen L Mayanja, Namugenyi Dorothy, Fredriksson Sonko Andrew, Lukyamuzi Richard, Nyombi Ronald, Kalema Steven, Magoola Ashiraf, Mbonye Kayitale Martin, Bwambale Amon, Ampereza Elizabeth, Shahib Shahib Said, Kisakye Gloria, Nakhabala Amir Matanda, Rutsinde Allan, Opar Robert.

The fifth edition of the Super Four Beach Soccer Tournament will be held this Sunday – September 28, 2025 at the Bunjako Beach in Buwama.

Four teams – Kampala City, two time winners St. Lawrence University, Mutoola BSC, and MUBS will vie for this year’s crown. This competition is played by the top four sides of the past campaign.

The draw to determine the fixtures was conducted on Tuesday morning, live in the studios of FUFA TV. It was conducted by MUBS team manager Lillian Namaganda and UBSA director of competitions proxy – Ssabagabo Julius Bazzeketa who is also the chairperson of Kiringente BSC.

In the first semi-final, inaugural cup winners MUBS will play St. Lawrence University, while cup holders Kampala City were drawn against Mutoola BSC.

The final will be played between the winners of the first, and second semi-finals, while the losers will settle for the third place play off.

If the match ends in a draw after the regular time, the teams will be given extra time of three minutes. If the game remains level even after extra-time, the winner will be determined by a penalty shootout. Kick-off time for the first semi-final has been scheduled for 12pm.

Fixtures:

Semi-finals:

1. MUBS Vs St. Lawrence University – 12pm
2. Kampala City Vs Mutoola BSC – 1pm

Third Place Play Off:

Loser 1 Vs Loser 2 – 2:30 pm

Final

Winner 1 Vs Winner 2 – 3:30pm

Past Winners:

2021 – MUBS

2022 – St. Lawrence University

2023 – St. Lawrence University

2024 – Kampala City.

The competitions committee has confirmed kick-off dates for the 2025/26 beach soccer season.

FUFA Beach Soccer League (FBSL) starts on the Sunday of October 12, 2025; Club licensing exercise is already underway, and the full fixture for the entire campaign will be released and communicated in time.

Three places – Bamboo Gardens Beach Soccer Arena in Kasanje, Serenity Sports Oasis – Busega and Bunjako Beach in Buwama are all being looked at as potential venues for the league this campaign.

This will be the 16^th season of the FBSL, and will consist of ten (10) teams that include;

MS Sand Lions, Wolves, St. Lawrence University, Buganda Royal Institute, Mengo Hill, Mutoola BSC, Grace Church, Muteesa 1 Royal University, MUBS, and defending champions Kampala City.

Two teams – Kiringente BSC and Kampala Junior Team (KJT) were relegated after failing to complete the league last season.

Super Four Beach Soccer Tournament 2025 (5^th Edition)

This is the pre-curser of every beach soccer season, and will be played two weeks before the league kicks-off. It will be played on the Sunday of September 28, 2025 at Bunjako beach in Buwama.

Only the top four teams of the past season take part in this competition. Current title holders – Kampala City will therefore be joined by MUBS, Mutoola BSC, and the two time winners – St. Lawrence University.

Fixtures will be released in the due course.