Defending champions Hotel Africana could face Centenary Bank in a third consecutive tug-of-war final at the climax of the Corporate Sports Network on November 29. The two sides, arguably the strongest and wisest in this game of mass and power, Africana and Centenary, have met each other in the past two finals, each winning once. And it is clear the organisers and neutrals alike are praying for a rematch between these two giants who are also big contenders for the overall title.
During the October 23 outing at Legends Club Lugogo, both sides cruised to the last six of the championship, almost effortlessly. In round one, Centenary, the 2024 champions, saw I and M Bank 2-0 to book a date with Roofings Limited, who had advanced by walkover after Pearl Bank did not show up.
Meanwhile, Africana defeated beverage makers Haris International 2-0 in round one before meeting Uganda Electricity Transmission Company (UETCL).
In round two, Roofings came with reserved energy after a walkover against Pearl Bank, but it was not enough to trouble Centenary, who won 2-0. Elsewhere, Uganda Bureau of Statistics, who had eliminated Electricity Regulatory Authority 2-0, also ejected Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA), who pulled with nine players against 10 because they lacked a woman on the team.
Equity Bank knocked out flower farmers Royal van Zanten 2-0. Last year’s quarterfinalists DTB stopped
Movit products 2-0 while dfcu ejected Quality Chemicals with the same score. Such was the mismatch in the last game of the day that fans jokingly begged Africana to use only three men against UETCL’s 10 that even the 2-0 scoreline does not tell the entire story.
‘We want to retain our trophy,’ Africana captain John Opio told Daily Monitor. ‘I think Centenary, as usual, are the strongest challengers.’
In round three, Centenary will take on fellow bankers DTB, Equity Bank will face UBOS while Africana will face Quality Chemicals before the final.
SELECT ROUND ONE RESULTS
Equity Bank 2-0 Graphic Systems
Hotel Africana 2-0 Haris International
Centenary Bank 2-0 I and M
DTB 2-0 Crown Beverages
Movit 2-1 Stanbic Bank
ROUND TWO RESULTS
Centenary Bank 2-0 Roofings
UBOS 2-0 MODVA
Equity 2-0 RVZ
DTB 2-0 Movit
Dfcu 2-0 QCIL
Africana 2-0 UETCL
ROUND THREE FIXTURES
Centenary vs DTB
Equity vs UBOS
Africana vs QCIL