Uganda Beach Soccer Association (UBSA) successfully held its 12th Ordinary General Assembly at Buganda Royal Institute in Mengo, Kampala.
Key stakeholders – including all the 44 beach soccer delegates and officials from the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) convened on Saturday to review, plan and discuss the activities of the association. General Secretary of the Africa Beach Soccer Union (ABSU) Taye Olajide, president of Pro Beach Soccer South Africa – Gordon Masondo and FUFA executive committee member and the executive secretary of football development, Mr. Ronnie Kalema, who represented the FUFA president Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim, followed the meeting via zoom.
During the assembly, UBSA chairman – Deo Mutabazi presented to the delegates the UBSA activity report for 2023/2024 season, highlighting the various activities his administration undertook since the last ordinary general assembly.
Capacity building (FAMACO1, beach soccer coaching and refereeing courses), super four beach soccer tournament, Muwanguzi Memorial Cup and the FUFA beach soccer league were some of the notable activities the association successfully held in the past season.
“We have had capacity building across all sectors – football administration, refereeing and coaching. This will help us to have professional officials to promote our game,” Chairman Mutabazi said.
“On infrastructure, we added more sand on our beach soccer facility at FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru. However, we still have a challenge of inadequate beach soccer facilities in the country.”
“But despite the challenges the association and the clubs are facing, we successfully completed the UBSA league season 2023/24 and the Muwanguzi Memorial Cup. I take this opportunity to congratulate all the teams that took part.”
Mr. Mutabazi re-echoed the importance of developing beach soccer infrastructure in the country, and also revealed that the post COVID-19 pandemic adverse effects continue to impact negatively on the everyday sporting activities of the association.
Multi-million budget for 2024/25 season
The assembly passed a budget of Uganda shillings 389 million for the 2024/2025 season. A considerable part of this budget will go to grassroots development, women’s beach soccer, youth initiatives, and capacity building.
Beach soccer for schools
Beach soccer was introduced in schools in 2023, and the second edition of the schools competition was held at the beginning of September in Soroti.
UBSA executive member Joseph Tamale noted that beach soccer has sparked competition amongst schools, but the shortage of facilities remain a big challenge to developing the game in the learning institutions.
FUFA Football Development Director, Ali Mwebe, who also doubles as the technical director at UBSA, said that the partnership between UBSA and Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) will yield more positive results, and assured delegates that FUFA firmly remain committed to supporting the game.
“UBSA’s partnership with USSSA will expose talented players to become beach soccer professionals. FUFA is also committed to supporting UBSA including both men’s and ladies’ national teams.”
Rewarding outstanding performers
Plans to recognize and award exceptionally talented players and best performing teams in USSSA beach soccer games were also announced during the assembly. This initiative aims to promote competition and excellence amongst beach soccer playing schools in Uganda.
The inaugural awards function will be held this year at FUFA house in Mengo. The awards categories will feature top scorers, best goalkeepers, most valuable players (MVP) and best teams of the just concluded games which include; Standard High School Zzana (Both boys and girls), Teso College Aloet (Boys), Mukono Kings (Girls), Immaculate Heart Secondary School (Girls) and London College of St. Lawrence (Boys).
