Women Beach Soccer League Returns After Three Year Hiatus

Fufa women beach soccer league is back after three years of no action which was caused by the outbreak of COVID 19.

The 2019/20 campaign was cancelled when sports activities were banned by the government while the two seasons that followed were not played due to the adverse effects of the pandemic.

**Action between Gomba Ladies and KJT in the just concluded women beach soccer festival**

Nine teams have confirmed participation in the 2022/23 season with the campaign getting underway on Sunday January 22 at the Fufa technical center beach soccer arena in Njeru.

Two time women beach soccer festival winners – Uganda Martyrs, Gafford Ladies, Ajax Queens, Mutoola Ladies, Nansana Ladies, Prison Ladies, Mpata Ladies, Gomba Queens and Kampala Junior Team (KJT) are the sides that will compete for this season’s title.

The fixtures will be released with in the course of the week.

Mutesa 1 Royal University Ladies were the last side to win the women’s beach soccer league in the 2018/19 season when it was last held but they will not be part this time.

List of confirmed teams

Uganda Martyrs

Gafford Ladies

Gomba Queens

KJT

Ajax Queens

Mutoola Ladies

Mpata ladies

Nansana Ladies

Prison Ladies

St. Lawrence Crowned Super Four Beach Soccer Champions

St. Lawrence University won the second edition of the UBSA super four beach soccer tournament with a 10-7 victory over Buganda Royal at Mutoola resort beach.

Sand Cranes star – Baker Lukooya struck four times in the final, including a worldie to lift his side from two goals down to beat Buganda Royal in a thrilling final on Sunday.

**Baker Lukooya (in blue) outsmarts his marker during the final**

MUBS did not show up to defend their title they won in the inaugural edition to allow Buganda Royal set up the final with SLAU who defeated KIU 13-7 in the first knock out match of this year’s competition.

The reigning Fufa beach soccer league champions, coming against a familiar foe who they comfortably beat in last season’s league final, had a false start to the game and they struggled to burry in their chances in the opening moments of the contest but they grew into the game as the clock ticked.

Buganda Royal soon took the lead through Dasan Mubiru who immediately doubled his side’s lead before Lukooya pulled one back for St.Lawrence. Paul Kato ensured Buganda Royal’s two goal cushion was restored with a cool finish but they failed to close the gates as Sulaiman Ochero scored two quick fire goals to tie the first period 3-3.

Just a few minutes into the second period, Lukooya put his awesome skills on display and left fans grinning from ear to ear when he scored a beauty for his team from a tight angle near the corner flag with an overhead kick, and the stylish forward added two more before Junior Mukunzi and Dasan Mubiru reduced St Lawrence’s advantage to one goal.

At 6-5, it looked like a mission possible for Buganda Royal – however, Jonathan Kikonyogo and Faruku Ssemukutu scotched their hope of any potential come back, each with a goal to stretch the lead for their side.

Despite being three goals down, Buganda Royal remained resilient and continued to put Davis Nnono’s side under pressure in the third period. They threatened to level the matters again when Mukunzi and Paul Lule found the net to reduce their goal deficit to one but Joshua Lubwama and Ochero stepped up to seal the win for their side.

**Joshua Lubwama celebrating with Lukooya after scoring a goal**

St. Lawrence, making their second appearance in the final of the super four on the trot, became the second team to win the tournament following MUBS’ success in 2021.

The UBSA super four tournament was a precursor to Fufa beach soccer league that kicks off the next Sunday of January 22, 2023.

Match Officials For Super Four Beach Soccer Tournament

For the UBSA super four beach soccer tournament 2023, four FIFA referees have been appointed to oversee the contests at Mutoola resort beach on Sunday January 15.

The roster comprise of Ivan Kintu Bayige, Muhammad Ssenteza, Kennedy Kawagga Bazirio and Joel Chote Munyendoh.

**Referee Muhammad Ssenteza (in black)**

St. Lawrence University will play KIU in the first match before Buganda Royal face off with holders MUBS, with the winner of each tie proceeding to the final.

**Referee Kennedy Kawagga (in yellow) showing a red card to Elvis Kasujja of MUBS last season**

The super four is a precursor to the Fufa beach soccer league which kicks off on January 22.

The referees list:

Ivan Kintu Bayige

Muhammad Ssenteza

Kennedy Kawagga Bazirio

Joel Chote Munyendoh.

UBSA Super Four Set To Open The New Season

UBSA beach soccer super four will be played the next Sunday of January 15, 2023 at Mutoola resort beach.

The super four is a tournament that is always played by the four teams that reached the play offs of the previous season and it is often staged before the beginning of every new campaign of the Fufa beach soccer league.

In this tournament, the team that finished as the first (champions) in the league play the team that came fourth while the one who ranked second play who finished in the third place.

St Lawrence and MUBS in a semi final bout last season

St Lawrence University, Buganda Royal Institute, MUBS and KIU were the teams who reached the play offs last season, finishing first, second, third and fourth in that order and they are set to battle again for this year’s cup.

St. Lawrence beat Buganda Royal 9-5 in the final to win the league for the record fourth time while MUBS defeated KIU with a 5-2 victory to finish third.

Fixtures

Match 1. St. Lawrence University Vs KIU

Match 2. Buganda Royal Vs MUBS.

Final: Winner Match 1 Vs Winner Match 2

Venue: Mutoola Resort Beach

Kickoff: 1PM

Fufa Beach Soccer League 2022/23 Kickoff Dates Confirmed

The 2022/23 Fufa Beach Soccer League will start on Sunday January 22, 2023 and has been scheduled to end in June, with eleven teams competing.

It will be played on a double round robin system and the top four teams by the end of the regular season will engage in the championship play offs, and the winners of their respective ties will proceed to the final to determine the champion.

Nicholas Mwere (red) of Jinja Lions and Rica Byaruhanga (blue) of St. Lawrence in action last season

With the exception of the lowest ranked side on the table, six teams (beginning from number five to number ten) will also enter into a classification round to ascertain their final positions in the league. This is intended to provide more game time to the players.

This season will also have matches played at four different venues and they include; Mutoola resort beach, Fufa technical center beach soccer arena, Samachi beach in Busabala and Lido beach in Entebbe.

A sneak peek at Mutoola resort beach pitch

The eleven teams that will compete this campaign are;

Ms Sand Lions

Buganda Royal Institute

Kiringente BSC

Mutoola BSC

KIU BSC

St. Lawrence University

Jinja Lions BSC

MUBS

Grace Church

Wolves BSC

Kampala Junior Team (KJT).

Fixtures will be made public as soon as possible.

Uganda Martyrs Retain Trophy In An Exciting Atmosphere

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.

Cissy Nantongo ( in black) of Nansana Ladies vie for the ball with Fatuma Nakasumba (in white) of Uganda Martyrs

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.

Goalkeeper Daphine Nyayenga (in green shirt) was subbed off because of an injury

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.

Nagadya (left) celebrating one of her goals with a team mate

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.

Gomba Ladies won bronze

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/=).

Nagadya after receiving her MVP medal

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.

Guest of honor Mr. Darius Mugoye handing over the trophy to the captain of Uganda Martyrs

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).

Uganda Martyrs, Nansana Ladies Show Class As The Second Edition Of Women Beach Soccer Festival Begin

Holders Uganda Martyrs Lubaga made a winning start to this year’s end of year women beach soccer festival and made their intentions to retain the trophy clear with two huge wins as the women’s showpiece got off the mark at Mutoola Resort Beach in Mukono.

They beat Kampala Junior Team (KJT) 5-1 in group A’s first match which was also the opening game of the festival on Friday. Catherine Nagadya starred with four goals and Brenda Munyana sealed their win while Leticia Nakyeyune struck the consolation for KJT.

Uganda Martyrs Catherine Nagadya aiming a shot

Uganda Martyrs then ran to a cleansheet when they whitewashed Talented Ladies 8-0 in their second match.

Nagadya and Fatuma Nakasumba scored a hat trick individually while Munyana and Esther Namusoke also joined the scoring party with a goal each.

Talented Ladies faced another blow at the hands of Mpata Ladies who defeated them 5-1 to extinguish their chances of making it out of the group before the latter were also given a taste of their own medicine by KJT who edged them 5-4 in the last game of group A on the day.

Last year’s finalists – Nansana Ladies put forward two wins to the board to take charge of group B with six points.

In their first game, they won by a 5-2 scoreline at Makindye Bees who have football stars Hasifah Nassuna, Samalie Nakacwa and Shakira Nyinagahirwa in their ranks. Nassuna and Nakacwa scored for their side but their strikes were not enough as Cissy Nantongo showed up with a hat trick before Justin Najjuko also made her presence felt with a brace.

Nansana Ladies pose for a photo moment before kick off of one of their games

They got the better of debutants Nile Queens in their second fixture to confirm their slot in the semi finals.

Najjuko’s hat trick, Yudaya Nalubega’s brace and a goal from Rebecca Nakasato earned them a 6-1 win, Gloria Mutesi scored the Nile Queens solitary goal in the game.

Gomba Ladies brushed aside Nile Queens 8-3 before they were held to a four all draw by Makindye Bees to sit second in the group with four points.

Hasifah Nassuna leaves her marker crawling

By the end of match day one, Catherine Nagadya of Uganda Martyrs and Shamsa Najjuma of Gomba Ladies were leading the goal scoring chart with seven goals each, and they are followed by Leticia Nakyeyune of KJT and Justin Najjuko of Nansana Ladies with six and five goals respectively.

Uganda Women Football Association (UWFA) chairperson Magret Kubingi and super beach soccer delegate Anthony Tumwesigye attended the opening games.

The festival is scheduled to end on Saturday with four group stage matches before the final.

Match day one results

Group A

Uganda Martyrs 5-1 Kampala JT

Mpata Ladies 5-1 Talented Ladies

Uganda Martyrs 8-0 Talented Ladies

Kampala JT 5- 4 Mpata Ladies

Group B

Nansana Ladies 5-2 Makindye Bees

Gomba Ladies 8-3 Nile Queens

Nansana Ladies 6-1 Nile Queens

Makindye Bees 4-4 Gomba Ladies

Match day two fixtures

Talented Ladies Vs Kampala JT

Nile Queens Vs Makindye Bees

Mpata Ladies Vs Uganda Martyrs

Gomba Ladies Vs Nansana Ladies

Semi final

M13 Winner Group A Vs Runner Up Group B

M14 Runner Up Group A Vs Winner Group B

Classification match

M15 Looser M#13 Vs Looser M#14

Final

M16 Winner M#13 Vs Winner M#14

Women Beach Soccer Festival 2022 Fixtures Released

The fixtures for the women beach soccer festival have on Friday been released. Fourteen teams will battle for this year’s title from December 30^th to 31^st at Mutoola resort beach in Mukono, and they are set to play a combined total of 42 group phase matches before the knock out stage.

Uganda Martyrs won last year’s festival

Also read https://ubsa.co.ug/women-beach-soccer-festival-attract-fourteen-teams/

Winners of groups – A and B will match the second placed team in the opposite group at the semi finals on match day two, with the classification (losers) match preceding the final on that very day.

Defending champions – Uganda Martyrs will in group A, face off with Ms Sand Lions in the opening showdown of the gala before the Jinja based Nile Queens play Mutoola Ladies in group B.

Kick off time for all the matches will be communicated in the due course and please note fixtures are subject to change.

Full Fixtures

Women Beach Soccer Festival DRAFT FIXTURES 2022-2

Match day one – 30/12/2022

Uganda Martyrs Lubaga Vs Ms Sand Lionesses

Niles Queens Vs Mutoola Ladies

Kampala JT Vs Talented Ladies Kasawo

Alphinex Vs Gomba Ladies

Prison Ladies Vs Mpata Ladies

Nansana Ladies Vs Makindye Bees

Kampala JT Vs Uganda Martyrs Lubaga

Alphinex Vs Nile Queens

Talented Ladies Kasawo Vs Prison Ladies

Gomba Ladies Vs Nansana Ladies

Mpata Ladies Vs Katuuso Community

Makindye Bees Vs She Maroons

Nile Queens Vs Nansana Ladies

Ms Sand Lionesses Vs Kampala JT

Mutoola Ladies Vs Alphinex

Katuuso Community Vs Talented Ladies Kasawo

She Maroons Vs Gomba Ladies

Uganda Martyrs Lubaga Vs Prison Ladies

Katuuso Community Vs Uganda Martyrs Lubaga

Nansana Ladies Vs Mutoola Ladies

Prison Ladies Vs Ms Sand Lionesses

She Maroons Vs Nile Queens

Talented Ladies Kasawo Vs Mpata Ladies

Gomba Ladies Vs Makindye Bees

Match day two – 31/12/2022

Alphinex Vs Nansana Ladies

Uganda Martyrs Lubaga Vs Mpata Ladies

Mutoola Ladies Vs She Maroons

Ms Sand Lionesses Vs Katuuso Community

Nile Queens Vs Makindye Bees

Kampala JT Vs Prison Ladies

Talented Ladies Kasawo Vs Uganda Martyrs Lubaga

She Maroons Vs Alphinex

Mpata Ladies Vs Ms Sand Lionesses

Makindye Bees Vs Mutoola Ladies

Katuuso Community Vs Kampala JT

Gomba Ladies Vs Nile Queens

Ms Sand Lionesses Vs Talented Ladies Kasawo

Alphinex Vs Makindye Bees

Kampala JT Vs Mpata Ladies

Nansana Ladies Vs She Maroons

Prison Ladies Vs Katuuso Community

Mutoola Ladies Vs Gomba Ladies

Semi Final

M43 Winner Group A Vs Runner Up Group B

M44 Runner Up Group A Vs Winner Group B

Classification Match

M45 Loser M#43 Vs Loser M#44

Final

M46 Winner M#43 Vs Winner M#44

Women Beach Soccer Festival Attract Fourteen Teams

The second edition of the annual women beach soccer festival will have fourteen teams compete this year, indicating an increase of four from the ten that took part in 2021.

Action between Prison Ladies and Kampala Junior Team in inaugural edition

They have been pooled in two groups – A and B, seven teams in each group with the top two in each lot qualifying for the knock out stage.

Defending champions Uganda Martyrs Lubaga are in group A while last year’s first runners up – Nansana Ladies highlight group B that also includes Nile Queens from Jinja.

**Uganda Martyrs were full of smiles after hoisting the trophy last year**

The festival, organised by the Uganda Beach Soccer Association (UBSA) together with the Uganda Women Football Association (UWFA), is scheduled for every 31st December.

Mutoola Resort Beach in Mukono to host the women’s showpiece for the second time running.

Draw in full.

Group A

Uganda Martyrs Lubaga

Ms Sand Lionesses

Kampala Junior Team

Prison Ladies

Katuuso Community

Mpata Ladies

Talented Ladies Kasawo

Group B

Nansana Ladies

She Maroons

Makindye Bees

Gomba Ladies

Alphinex

Nile Queens

Mutoola Ladies

AFRICAN BEACH SOCCER UPDATES

The Beach Soccer African Cup of Nations ( BSAFCON) championship was established in 2006 when FIFA made it a requirement for all confederations to begin holding qualification tournaments on Beach Soccer to determine the best national teams in their region.

Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) initially organised the competition under the title FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualifier also known as the CAF Beach Soccer championship

CAF became the lead organisers in 2015, establishing a qualification phase to determine the elite nations to compete in the tournament finals. CAF also officially renamed the Tournament as Beach Soccer African Cup of Nations (BSAFCON)

Current rankings of teams qualified for the BSAFCON 2022

1st – Senegal (5th Global)
2nd – Mozambique (21st Global)
3rd – Morocco (23rd Global)
4th – Egypt (28th Global)
5th – Uganda (46th Global)
6th – Nigeria (47th Global)
7th – Madagascar (75th Global)
8th – Malawi (102nd Global)

Picture: Big Roo (Moz) & Raoul (Sen) during the 2021 BSAFCON finals in Saly Senegal.

Picture credits: @Nasyr_auwal