Corporate Sports Network (CSN) is heading into the final stretch of the 2026 season with a congested football calendar as organisers race to clear a backlog created by the cancellation of the May outing.
The network returns to action on Sunday, September 27, at Kampala Rugby Grounds, formerly Legends Rugby Club, where teams will battle in normal soccer and the 35+ category.
With only three outings left — September, October and November — CSN has increased the number of matches teams will play in a bid to complete the season within the revised calendar.
According to Mr Charles Ssempagala, the General Manager, teams will play between five and six normal soccer games at each remaining outing, in addition to their 35+ fixtures.
“The increased workload follows the cancellation of the May outing after authorities restricted mass gatherings in Kampala and other high-risk areas during the Ebola outbreak.
The disruption left CSN with a backlog of fixtures, forcing organisers to rethink the final months of the season.”
He said that to accommodate the increased number of fixtures, CSN has introduced shorter matches. “Starting with the September outing, normal soccer matches will be played for seven minutes per half. The adjustment is intended to allow organisers to squeeze more games into the day’s programme without compromising the completion of the season.
However, the packed schedule also means some matches will kick off after 6:00pm,” he explains.
The compressed programme is expected to give teams little room for complacency, particularly those fighting for positions in the standings.
No room for latecomers
Ssempagala revealed that CSN has also tightened its walkover regulations as the season enters its decisive phase. From the September outing, walkovers will be awarded at 9:30am to teams that fail to show up.
Teams called to the pitch will have only two minutes to appear. Failure to report within that window will result in a forfeit, with the team present being awarded the walkover.
The rule is expected to eliminate delays and keep the already-tight timetable moving.
With several games lined up for each team, organisers have warned, in effect, that there will be little room for teams to hold up the programme.
September is football only.
Unlike some of the earlier outings that have featured several sporting disciplines, the September gathering will focus exclusively on football.
Both normal soccer and 35+ soccer will be played at Kampala Rugby Grounds.
The 35+ category has continued to provide a competitive platform for veteran players, adding another layer to the CSN football programme.
The September outing will therefore be a football-heavy affair as teams attempt to make up for lost ground before the season enters its final two months.
Swimming and pool table return
After the September football marathon, attention will shift to Hotel Africana on October 11.
Swimming and pool table competitions have been scheduled for the venue, giving participants a break from the football-heavy programme and bringing back some of the season’s indoor and aquatic action.
The event will form part of the activities leading into the October outing.
October brings variety.
The October outing will expand the sporting menu again, with tug of war, woodball and soccer on the programme.
The combination is expected to test participants in different ways, from football skills and tactical awareness to strength, coordination and precision.
For companies competing across several disciplines, the October outing could prove important in the broader race for overall season honours.
Sempagala says the changes to the original activity plan were necessitated by circumstances beyond their control but expressed confidence that the remaining programme can now be completed.
He thanked participating companies for their patience, cooperation and continued support as organisers work through the revised calendar.
