Big package for beach soccer

Players demonstrate how the game is played during the Pepsi National Beach Soccer League launch at Lido yesterday. Photo by Ismail Kezaala

What you need to know:

Big package for beach soccer

Soccer. Pepsi announces Shs150m package, setting a platform for beach soccer to grow countrywide.

PLAYING BEACH SOCCER

  • Each team consists 12 squad players. Only five start the game and all of them can be substituted. Shoes are not allowed, although ankle guards are permitted.
    A game lasts 36 minutes split in three quarters.
  • There is no draw. If regulation time ends in a draw, the teams go into extra time and later penalties, if necessary. Three referees officiate the match. Two are allowed on the field of play with the other keeping watch on the teams’ benches.
    A free kick is awarded for any foul with the fouled player taking it.
  • When a player is yellow carded, they rest for two minutes and return to the pitch.
    After a red card, a player goes off and the team brings on another after two minutes.

For some years, Ugandan players have played beach soccer for the fun of it. Almost all of the 16 clubs have been digging deep into their coffers to negotiate league seasons while in some cases teams have missed out on games due to lack of transport.

Starting next season, things will be different after the Uganda Beach Soccer Association (UBA) struck a Shs150m sponsorship package from Crown Beverages Limited. The package will cater for the 2013/2014 season which will be called the Pepsi National Beach Soccer League. That means players won’t be spending money to play. Instead, they will start playing for a prize with the champions pocketing not less than Shs2m. “The biggest percent of the budget will cater for teams’ facilitation mainly transport,” Pepsi brand manager Timothy Luzinda said while announcing the deal at Lido Beach yesterday. “We believe that the partnership is very vital in unveiling the potential Uganda has in this sport.”

After four years of working on a shoe-string budget, UBA chairman Deo Mutabazi is ecstatic the deal will lessen on his association’s financial burdens. “It a huge weight put off our shoulders,” Mutabazi said. “The sport is going to be played more consistently without any setbacks.”

The deal will be good news for league defending champions Braza Braza, Makerere University Business School (Mubs), Nkumba University, Zaba SM, Najja Strikers, Zai Plaza, Buwanika Bulls.

Others clubs set to benefit include Kabalagala Rangers, Stomers, Kabalagala Young, Uhuru Cabs, Mengo International, Multec Business School and Kampala International University. The league has been held since 2007 without a sponsor.

Meanwhile, Uganda will not send representatives to the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup qualifiers due May 22-26 in Morocco. This is after the national beach soccer team, the Sand Cranes, failed to secure clearance from Fufa to travel for the tournament. Deadline to confirm participation was May 10.