By Pauline Akello
As we close the year, we note that the sports sector has had an unusual redundancy compared to the past years.
Sportsmen and fans have not experienced the full satisfaction of engaging in their favourite games.
With consistent reduction in confirmed Covid-19 cases, the new restrictions were relaxed but sports events were required to operate under strict observance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) excluding spectators.
It is on record that little sport was done this year owing to these lockdown restrictions.
World Cup Qualifiers
Our expectations soared and fell away, after the final Group E clash with Mali, who went undefeated.
The Cranes were beaten 1-0 at Agadir Stadium in Morocco on November 13, 2021. Uganda completed her qualifiers run with nine points in second place.
The team lost once, got two wins and three draws and scored three goals and conceded two.
Uganda Premier
The StarTimes Uganda Premier League continued with fixtures between top division teams.
The Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) also confirmed a new format for the Big League of the 2021/2022 season.
Previously, the FUFA Big League was competed for by 16 clubs, but it will now comprise 12 teams playing in a single group, home and away.
The bottom four at the end of the season shall be relegated to their respective third Division Leagues.
Basketball
The Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) called off the rest of the 2021 Season after five clubs fulfilled the resumption requirements. No winner was declared for this year.
The Silverbacks are back in the tournament and set off for Angola on November 25, after FUBA managed to secure funds.
Uganda is hoping to build on the previous Afro-Basket performance in Rwanda,where they finished sixth.
From Angola, the team finished third in the opening qualification window, with four points, building on their 76-66 to Mali, 77-74 to Cape Verde.
If they maintain third place in the next round of games in July 2022, they will secure a place in the final round of qualifiers, from which the World Cup qualifiers will be chosen.
Netball
Uganda won the outdoor event in the midst of Namibian fans and visiting teams with an unbeaten run.
She Cranes also went on to scoop silver at the African Netball Championship also held in Windhoek, Namibia.
The ladies finished second after pulling off a draw against Malawi in their last game of the championship.
The match schedule for the up-and-coming Commonwealth Games was released and it follows the confirmation of the top six qualifiers for the event: England the hosts, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, South Africa, and Malawi. The opening match is slated for July 29, 2022.
Boxing
In October, the Uganda Boxing Federation organised a successful outdoor competition that earmarked the return of boxing action after a two-year pause.
Due to Covid-19, the event was held in the open at Lugogo Sports Arena.
Four boxers in each weight category qualified to the semifinals, and the quarter will have a chance to compete at the inaugural Champions League with a place on the national team up for grabs.
However, the Female Boxers did not take part in the national team trials due to their limited number per weight category and all qualified to the Champions League.
In anticipation of the forthcoming 2022 Commonwealth Games, both male and females boxers would be contending for national team slots in a Mini-Tournament to be announced.
Boxing federation also organised a vaccination exercise for all boxers expecting to participate in the mini-trials.
Rugby
Following a failed Olympics and HSBC Series Campaign early this year, when the team was disqualified for failing Covid-19 tests, Uganda Rugby Union has turned their focus on the 2022 Rugby Africa 7s Tournament.
The union has also set its sights on 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the 2022 Africa Men’s Sevens Tournament.
It is clear many teams across board are now back to the drawing board, trying to prepare for the next calendar of activities.
These are both for local and international tournaments.
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