The Uganda Badminton Association (UBA) relaunched the three classes National Badminton League of n Saturday 28th January at MTN Arena in Lugogo.
The Badminton League being the first in Africa was first launched in 2011 but failed to live upto its expectations and later dropped, it has seen its rebirth in 2023 as UBA has fronted consistency as a key issue in developing the game across the country.
The Association chairperson Annet Nakamya hinted on the development of the league as key issue with consistency competition and their target is to keep the league running.
“Since we have three categories, the objectives of the league 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 Annet Nakamya.
“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.” The UBA chairperson added.
The players on the national team have cited out lacked competition as key issue which has affected them for along time and they look forward to using the league as part of their preparations for the various continental and international tournaments to come ahead.
Husnah Kobugabe a player for Ndejje had this to say “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.”
“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 joined the league to have some experience this being the first time. We hope to give the other teams a competition they deserve, but above all, I want to have fun. The last league we had was in 2018, which was very competitive, we used to meet every weekend which gave us the motivation to train, but since their has been no competitions after that, the players became reluctant and lazy. The league will possibly change that, and bring us back to the sport, and also introduce new players.”
The three classes National Badminton super League will have the national elite league, the national corporate league with six teams and the schools league which will start after schools resumption.
The teams will face off in the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles with a team that wins the tie, bagging three points and each team taking one point in case of a tie draw.
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.
