Saturday, 28th March 2015 will forever remain engraved on the activity rich calendar of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) and generally, the rich history laden script of Uganda’s football.
On the day, the first ever futsal (indoor football) event with the full blessings of Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) was held at the Lugogo indoor Arena in Kampala.
The competition was organized by the Futsal Association of Uganda (FAS), the body mandated by FUFA to arrange futsal related competitions in the country.
To this far, the Futsal Association of Uganda through their committed team has not laid back.
Several build up matches have been organized every Tuesday night with various teams to keep the game alive.
Back then, during the invitational tourney, three Universities and four guest teams took part in the colourful event.
FUFA XI was captained by the Federation finance director, Decolas Kizza.
Nakawa based Makerere University Business School (MUBS) outwit Kyambogo and Kampala International University (KIU) to bag the main trophy in the institutions event that was held on a round robin format.
The guest teams’ category was won by Wazei, which was skippered by Kampala central Member of Parliament, Muhammed Nsereko.
FUFA Select sent a strong message of intent when they convincingly drowned NBS T.V 3-1 before Wazei out-staged Galaxy F.M by an identical score line in the semi-finals.
A star studded Wazei then narrowly pipped FUFA XI by a lone strike in the thrilling final that was watched by a great crowd.
Hamza Jjunju, the chairman of the Uganda Futsall body sings special praise of the in-door game;
Futsal is a great game that we should encourage.
It is exciting and less tiring than the other football brands.
The entertainment at every half time was another spice meant to make the game more appealing to the fans
Top Performers at Inaugural Futsal Championship in Kampala:
Kampala Central Member of Parliament, Hon. Muhammed Nsereko was voted the most valuable player as FUFA’s Ivan Bayige top scored with 2 goals in the guests’ category.
Fazil Mwinige top scored in the institutions category as FUFA’s Brian Nsereko was voted best goal keeper.
MUBS’ Stephen Othieno took the golden gloves award for inspiring his university to glory as he conceded the least goals (2) in the event.
FUFA’s new head of Futsal and Beach Soccer department is the vastly experienced administrator, Samuel Mpiima.
The development of futsal in Uganda is long overdue but achievable. FUFA is more than willing to support futsal grow through every leaps and bounds. Soon, we shall have the league incorporated as well as other invitational tournaments
Futsal is a growing brand of football in Uganda that affiliates to the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) under beach soccer and Futsal.
Jjunju envisages the future of the sport in Uganda as bright with an upcoming league after the inter-University championships.
FIFA’s prime agenda at the moment is to spread at lightening pace the level of competitions in several futsal and beach soccer championships.
FUFA Technical Director, Asuman Lubowa urged more players to take on the game.
Futsal is a great brand of football that the federation is trying to develop.
For everyone who would love to participate, keep up the spirit and many more are encouraged to take on the game.
For Now, the future of futsal in Uganda is surely envisaged and predicted as bright.
Several corporate companies have picked keen interest in the game.
BASIC RULES OF FUTSAL:
TEAMS:
1- Each team starts with 5 players on the playing area including the goal keeper and up to 7 substitutes are allowed.
TIME:
2- A full game has a duration of 40 minutes with each half taking 20 minutes and a 10 minute break. The clock is stopped every time the ball goes out of play.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
3- Teams are allowed unlimited substitutions during the course of the game. The substitutions can only take place at the designate substitution zones.
The referee does not have to be notified of the substitutions; however, the substitute can only join the play when his teammate has fully left the pitch through the substitution zone.
GOAL POSTS AND KEEPER’S AREA:
4- The futsal ground measures minimum 25x16m, maximum 42x25m. The Goal posts are three by 2 (3×2) metres in size.
The goal keeper’s area is formed by a 6 metre semi circle arc around.
BALL OUT OF PLAY:
5- When the ball goes out over the sidelines, it is kicked back in (ball must be positioned on the line) with the opponents 5 metres away from it.
Players have 4 seconds to do this or the kick will go to the opposition. When the ball goes out wide over the end lines, the goal keeper throws the ball back into play. Normal Corner kick rules apply.
FOULS:
6- No sliding tackles are allowed – except the goal keeper in his arc area.
No shoulder charges are allowed.
All free kicks are indirect except when awarded for above type fouls. Opponents must always keep 5 metres away from the ball.
ACCUMULATED FOULS:
7- If a team commits more than 5 fouls during the course of the game, every subsequent free-kick awarded will be from a 10 metre mark and opponents are not allowed to block it or form a wall (in effect, a penalty from 10 metres).
CARDS:
8- A yellow card is shown for unsporting behavior, dissent, time wasting, encroachment, persistent infringement, and illegal subbing.
A red card is shown for serious foul play, violent conduct, spitting, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, abusive language, and receiving a second yellow.
Red carded players are ejected from the game and their team must play short for two minutes or until the other team scores a goal.
If a player from a team is sent off, the team may send on a sub after two (2) minutes have elapsed from the sending off or after the opposing team has scored a goal if its within 2 minutes period in question.
History of Futsal:
Futsal started in 1930 when Juan Carlos Ceriani Gravier (French Wikipedia), a teacher in Montevideo, Uruguay, created a version of indoor football for recreation in YMCAs.
Futsal currently has two governing bodies: Asociación Mundial de Fútbol de Salón (AMF) and Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
AMF is the successor organization to the original governing body.
FIFA later took an interest in futsal, however talks between FIFA and AMF to reconcile governance were not successful.
To this end, FIFA organizes its own separate competitions.
PHOTO CREDIT: FUFA Communications Department
