When the curtains fall on the regular season this Sunday, the FUFA beach soccer league will head into the championship play-offs come 18th June, 2023 to determine the champion, and three teams have already booked their places with three games to spare.
Defending champions – St. Lawrence University who currently top the eight team pile were the first to make the cut to the playoffs, Mutoola BSC also wheeled in after a stellar run of eleven victories in thirteen matches before Jinja Lions leaped to the table of men for their maiden appearance in the final four.
Makindye Ssabagabo Sand Lions and Buganda Royal each have a chance to book the last spot but the slot is for for Tiimu y’Ekibuga’s to lose. Jamil Ssemwogerere and his men currently lie in the fourth position with a total of 25 points, six more than Buganda Royal’s count although the later still have two matches to play. But Tony Ssebbaggala’s side will need divine intervention to pull a suck punch and win by a cricket score against giant killers Kiringente and the free flowing Mutoola BSC, and also strongly pray that Makindye Ssabagabo Sand Lions miserably lose to Grace Church to grab the last ticket.
Meanwhile, St. Lawrence and Mutoola extended their winning streaks at the weekend with wins over Buganda Royal, Kiringente and Wolves. Makindye Ssabagabo Sand Lions too edged Kiringente while Jinja Lions goofed up in the battle of the lions as Wolves shocked the nation with a convincing victory over the Abambowa.
Brian Nkuubi led the way for the Saints with a hat trick, with Ronald Magwali, Joshua Lubwama and Jonathan Kikonyogo also scoring braces each in their side’s 11-1 win over Buganda Royal.
Emma Waswa and Allan Katwe also struck as they raved at FUFA Technical Centre on Sunday but the former happened to score past his own goalkeeper to gift their opponents the consolation.
Sharif Apuuli spearheaded Mutoola’s scintillating showings against Kiringente as the diminutive versatile player showed up with a hat trick; Simon Peter Kijjo sealed their win with a brace before their goalkeeper Joseph Kigozi helped the ball passed his own goal line.
Wolves’ renaissance also continued. With Baptist Male as the mastermind, they ripped Buganda Royal to threads with a 7-4 dominant win. Male, Derrick Luyimbazi and Julius Sentamu stared with two goals each, while goalkeeper Evans Ninsiima struck an own goal to stretch Wolves’ advantage.
Jinja Lions profited from the lady luck to share spoils with MS Sand Lions. Edrine Mawerere Cavan opened the scores to put The Sand Kings in the lead before George William Dhabangi arrowed in a beauty to make it 2-0 up.
However, Yusuf Joloba’s magical brace and another strike from Simon Kizito ensured MS Sand Lions took charge of the game but they were undone by defender Rajab Okello when he scored in his own net to gift Jinja Lions a point.
This Sunday will mark the end of the regular season with nine matches on schedule.
Full results – Sunday June 4, 2023
MS Sand Lions 5-3 Kiringente
Mutoola 5-1 Kiringente
Buganda Royal 1-11 St. Lawrence
MS Sand Lions 3-3 Jinja Lions
Wolves 7-4 Buganda Royal
Wolves 0-3 Mutoola
Next fixtures – Sunday June 11, 2023
