The thrill of the futsal league just got a little tougher off the court.
After two transformative seasons of financial oxygen from betting company betPawa, the 2024/25 Futsal Super League clubs will now have to fend for themselves, a development that has set off alarm bells but also ignited calls for stronger internal sustainability.
In September 2023, betPawa entered Ugandan football with a Shs1.18 billion ($320,000) deal that covered the Fufa Drum, Big League and the Futsal Super League. Though support for the Drum and Big League was discontinued, the gaming firm extended its partnership with the Futsal Association of Uganda (Fau) by committing Shs334.5m to the Futsal Super League, Futsal Uganda Cup and Super Cup for the 2023/24 campaign.
The investment paid off. Futsal’s profile soared and FAU walked away from the MTN Fufa Awards as the 2024 Member Association of the Year. The applause felt like a curtain-raiser for another season of corporate backing.
Even betPawa’s Country Director, Allan Tumushabe, was upbeat then, saying futsal ‘delivered value.’
That optimism has evaporated. As the new season kicked off, clubs were notified that betPawa would not renew the partnership. Gone with the deal are the iconic Locker Room Bonuses (LRB) that gave winning players instant cash rewards via mobile money. Last season alone, Shs167.5m was disbursed directly to players, lifting morale and competitiveness.
The teams now feel the pinch.
‘We didn’t expect them to stay forever. We shall miss the Locker Room Bonuses as they were a big motivation for the players. That marks the plan to see that clubs organise their own funding,’ said Ali Omarios, a director at Kisenyi Futsal Club.
He noted that the club will now at least ensure fair transport reimbursement for players on matchdays.
Fau, however, is preaching resilience rather than panic.
‘LRB was filling a gap in club winning bonus budgets. All clubs sat, reviewed and drew independent winning bonuses for their teams. As FAU we shall keep growing within our means,’ Fau Chairma Hamza Jjunju told Daily Monitor.
Jjunju revealed that a new league board has been constituted and will play a key role in steering reforms. The federation is also crafting a strategic plan for 2026-2030 that will focus on strengthening competitions for men, women, boys and girls, alongside improving governance and creating viable business streams.
The door is not completely shut on betPawa in Uganda’s sports sector. The betting giant still holds a Shs2.6b three-year contract signed in 2024 with the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (Fuba), backing the Silverbacks and Gazelles.
Futsal Super League
Playing Friday @ O’kla
Edgars vs Nansana Aska
Kisenyi vs Kabowa
Lubiri Falcons vs Grameen
Old Kampala vs UG Kop
La Mansia vs Entebbe
Mengo vs QC Mbarara
What betPawa’s exit means for Futsal
What was funded?
Locker Room Bonuses for players
Futsal Super League operations
Uganda Cup and Super Cup events of-season awards
Money involved
Initial Shs1.1b sponsorship in 2023/24 (shared with FUFA Drum and Big League)
Additional Shs334.5m for futsal last season
Shs167.5m paid directly to players as LRBs
Why it mattered
Instant cash payouts
Increased club professionalism and visibility
Helped Fau earn Fufa Member Association of the Year (2024)
What happens now?
Clubs must independently finance winning bonuses
Players may only get transport refunds
Fau planning a 2026-2030 sustainability roadmap
League board set up to drive business growth
Who still has betPawa?
Fuba: Shs2.6b deal for national basketball teams (Silverbacks and Gazelles)