Badminton Association Starts Three National Leagues, Aims At Consistency
Uganda Badminton Association started three national leagues that will see the game active through out the year.
The first ever well organized badminton league of three categories started on Saturday 28th January 2023 at Lugogo Indoor Arena.
The three leagues expected to run for at least six months and the top league or the super league has started with six clubs and it will be played on a round robin format and on a home and away basis though it will be honored at Lugogo Indoor Arena since it’s a neutral ground.
While addressing media at the opening of the league at Lugogo on Saturday, Uganda Badminton Association chairperson, Madam Annet Nakamya revealed the objectives of the league.
“Since we have three categories, the objectives of the league are; we are looking at development, the players from schools will be getting into elite stage and then for Corporate, is basically for the financial support that we get from this groups and also the continuity of the people who used to play the game and you are going to see many of them including me.” Said UBA chairperson.
“The other objective is the continuous play of badminton through out the year, so we are hoping that we give these players opportunity to play and Alo to help us to develop the game ” she added.
All categories of play will be catered for that’s; singles, doubles, and mixed doubles but a team that wins the tie, will win that game by three points and in case of a draw, each side will take a point, this is according to Simon Mugabi, the UBA CEO.
The players like Fadilah Shamika, Husna Kobugabe and Mwambu Kenneth from Kampala Badminton Club, Ndejje University and Mbogo Warriors respectively commented about the importance of the league towards their career development.
“We have been lacking competition, in the past years we had no league, so it’s going to help us, the top players to play each other and compete and will help the federation to discover other good players. And as Ndejje University we have a good team and hoping to win this year’s league.” Said Husna Kobugabe, player from Ndejje University.
“The league is going to test my progress, when I train through out the week, then I come on weekend in the league to see how I have improved and also to prepare for international tournaments.” Says Mwambu Kenneth of Mbogo Warriors.
“I came with my teammates, friends just to have the experience, since it’s our first time to play in a league and we hope to give the competition to our opponents, that they deserve.” Says 17year old Fadilah Shamika from Kampala Badminton Club.
The six clubs in Super League include:
Mbogo High Warriors
Ndejje University
Kampala Badminton Club A
CFK Patriots BC
Victoria University Warriors
Kampala Badminton Club B
Uganda National Corporate League clubs:
Entebbe Institute Club
CFK Corporates
Mbogo Warriors
Kampala Badminton Club A
Kampala Badminton Club B
State House
Equity Bank
The Saturday results:
Victoria University Wasps 3-2 KBC-A
NDEJJE UNIVERSITY 5-0 KBC-B
Mbogo High Warriors 3-2 The CFK Patriots Badminton Club.