The Corporate League returns this weekend on Sunday 26th Feb, at the Kyadondo Rugby grounds as the organizers mark 21 years of existance.
Activities like a source of the Nile Uganda Corporate Marathon, a Kids corporate league, and a regional replica of the initiative will be extended to different parts of the country.
Talking to the media on Wednesday morning, Dennis Mbidde -Managing Director of the Corporate League- revealed that basketball will as well be a part of the disciplines that the companies will compete in.
“After playing football as the main game, we have discovered over the years that basketball is a corporate game emersed so much in the corporates. So for us we have seen an area where the corporates can come and play a basketball league that can run concurrently with the football League. It will be played mainly by people from 35years to 55, who want to keep fit and healthy. So this is a product we want to focus on this year.”
He also said that proceeds from the Source of the Nile Uganda Corporate Marathon will be directed towards CSR activities, which is a cornerstone in the founding of the Corporate League.
“This marathon will be done for a cause. For instance we have discovered a need in Jinja referral Hospital of an improved cancer and heart institute. So we want to mobilize our 85 companies to fundraise for such projects.”
Over the years, different companies have been culprits in the use of ineligible players also known as mercenaries, but the League’s Chairperson Diana Akello says measures have been put in place, to curb the vice.
“Yes… we’ve been having a challenge of mercenaries but we have solutions for the vice and some of them are, participants providing an NSSF record, and a National Identity Card for games that require players above 35 years.
Companies will battle in upto eight sports disciplines with football as the main sport on addition to athletics, volleyball, golf, swimming, tennis, pool, and the newly added Basketball.
Plans are also underway to introduce a regional Corporate League and this will start with the Jinja corporate league on Sunday 23rd 2023 followed by the Northern Corporate League on Sunday 10th September.
The kids corporate league starts on Saturday June 17th at the Legends Rugby grounds and the CEO’s Breakfast Awards Ceremony and fundraiser will be held at Sheraton Hotel on Friday 7th July.
Televising of games will start this weekend with matches at the Kings Park Stadium as the league launches a customized Corporate League TV -CLTV.
