Season One: 2024
Defending champs (overall): Centenary Bank
Season Two (2025) kick-off: February 23
Registered companies: 40
Games to play: 10+
After a successful first season last year, the Astra Corporate Sports Network (CSN) returns in a fortnight in a potentially exciting Season Two.
Within just its infancy, CSN is fast becoming the most inclusive and captivating corporate recreational sports enterprise, assuring participants of unique team-building, improved company visibility and fitness of participants and bonding with others.
The 2025 season will be played in 11 match days, starting February 23 and continue every last Sunday of the month, before the crowning moment at the awards gala on December 5 at Hotel Africana.
The first match day at Luzira Prison Grounds will be entirely about football, before teams face off in woodball, basketball, netball, athletics, tug of war, swimming, and fun games.
The games will be hosted by different venues: Mandela National Stadium Namboole, Luzira Prison Grounds, Makerere University Business School, Kyadondo Rugby Grounds and Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, where comfort and security is guaranteed.
Hotel Africana will be your rendezvous for swimming and pool table on June 8.
This year’s edition will also have darts for CEOs and top managers, who may lack the fitness and drive for the more physical games.
Centenary Bank won the overall title in 2024, while Tropical Bank dominated football. Both will have to defend their honours against a bigger field of 40 companies—six more than last year’s 34.
During the launch of season two at Hotel Africana, general manager Charles Ssempagala welcomed the new entrants including the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), Absa Bank, Equity Bank, Autochek Uganda and Kyambogo University, and assured them of a fulfilling experience.
Asadu Ssemeere, head of technical, warned companies against using non-eligible players. “Strictly, we don’t allow professional players in our events, unless one presents evidence of inactivity in the past two consecutive years.”
He added that they are working with federations to verify the status of all players.
To prove each player’s attachment to a particular company, Ssemeere said they will use their NSSF numbers and national IDs.
The essence isn’t competing for trophies. “It’s about enabling corporates to relieve their sporting days before they got too preoccupied with work and life,” he explained.
Giving back to community
Last year CSN paid school fees for a needy child in the Luzira community. This time, Simeon Bulezi, the CSN chairman, on their corporate social responsibility menu, they are going to rehabilitate the Prisons basketball court by May and hold health camps with the help of Case Hospital and the Red Cross.
You’re awesome!