Banijan Soccer League in the S-FPL Era- Year 11: The Final Day Matchday 42- 12:30 PM resultsBunyoro RSC 1–3 Busembe Timberwolves
Kabakono City 2–0 Amaku City SC
Barmos United 1–0 Ogbordu Diamond FC
Lwanga Lions 2–2 Mamari City
Isipongo Flash 0–1 Sororo City
Dukuma SC 3–0 Tezirbu Foxes
Matchday 42- 2:30 PM resultsUmbazi Metropolitan SC 0–3 Duntho Sporting Club
Bwubanza City SC 0–7 Askatasuna FC
4:25 PM: And that's the final whistle in Duntho! And the final whistle is going to blow in Bwubanza as well. As always with teams that are trying to avoid relegation, it ended kind of ugly- or, specifically in this case, teams trying to avoid being the second-worst team in Banija, and play in that Qualifier.
4:52 PM: Let's take a look, firstly, at what was probably the game of the time slot- Umbazi Metropolitan SC hosting Duntho Sporting Club. Two teams in the relegation zone, and Umbazi was, realistically, looking for three points. A draw, no matter what the results were in Bwubanza, would not have been enough to get Umbazi out of 19th. They were the much better team for the opening 45 minutes. But, of course, this is a team who isn't quite good at this- if they were, they wouldn't be in this position. The key part was when, in the 41st minute, they earned a penalty because of a Duntho handball. And their Ko-orenite striker, Baste Pellenkoft, stepped up to take it- and skied it. Miles high, got everything wrong. Like so many times this season, it simply wasn't their day.
4:53 PM: Of course, in the second half, Umbazi Metropolitan SC made some attacking substitutions, and they really started getting forward. Flying forward, really- committing numbers, searching for that goal that would put them in safety. But Duntho Sporting Club sat back, bided their time, and went to counter-attack- and did so with ferocity. An interception in the center of the park in the 60th minute led to a counter-attack, which saw an unmarked Lamarr Watkins(the Cobrio international) finishing on the back end. A brilliant team goal- 1-0 to the visitors.
4:54 PM: And with that, Umbazi Metropolitan SC were really cut short. They continued to try and throw players forward- and again, they'd continue to be punished on the counter. The 36 year old Duntho SC #10, Jocki Sigtryggursson, would score in the 72nd minute to make it 2-0, and the Busogan striker off the bench, Alev Buruk, would remove all doubt in the 76th minute, when she headed home on a cross. 3-0 to Duntho SC- saving themselves from the specter of relegation, clinching safety.
4:55 PM: Duntho's win saved themselves from disaster, and ensured that they'd be playing in the Banijan Soccer League next season. But they did not only save themselves- they saved Bwubanza City as well. Bwubanza City were an abject disaster on this day- honestly, they might deserve to go down, but they can probably consider themselves lucky this year. A game where they needed at least a draw to clinch safety. Remember, those Duntho goals didn't come until after an hour had been played in both matches. If that Umbazi penalty had gone in... There's a very real chance that Bwubanza City would be playing in that BSL Qualifier match.
4:56 PM: Look, I know- they just came up from the regional leagues. Give them a break. But damn- this was disastrous. They've got an extremely young team(5 teenagers in the starting XI???) and it was clear- the lights were far too bright. One of their CBs, Kabonesa Lugoonya, got a red card for a clumsy challenge in the box in the 17th minute- yielding a penalty that would give Askatasuna FC their opening goal. Down one man, and already a worse team, Askatasuna FC just put them to the screws. It was still 1-0 in the 35th- and by halftime, it was 5-0. A collapse of epic proportions by Bwubanza. The Green & Whites ended up winning, 7-0- yet through no fault of their own, Bwubanza City have maintained their spot in this league for at least one more season.
5:30 PM Matchups
Rukunbi FC v. Igulu City FC
Lakiska SC v. Herzegovina Phoenix
Jaribga Soccer Club v. Hawabark Boulders
5:20 PM: So we know what's happening at the bottom of the table! Now, for what's happening at the top. Four teams in the title race, three matches played- all eyes on Lakiska SC hosting the Phoenix, for sure, but the Hawabark Boulders and Rukunbi FC both have intriguing matchups as well.
5:25 PM: Teams are entering the pitch, anthems being sung. Interesting scenes across the grounds. Obviously, all sorts of excitement in the Busogan capitol. And in Istria too- Rukunbi is decked out, as they chase promotion. That whole side of Istria- club colors everywhere. And then, of course, there's Jaribga. Completely taken over by Hawabark fans- maybe 70% of the ground is traveling fans? Considering they are already relegated, and Hawabark is chasing promotion, that isn't a huge surprise.
5:31 PM: And at all three grounds, they're off!
5:37 PM: No real chances in any of the matches so far, as there seem to be a lot of nerves. A lot of passing around the back- granted, we're only 6-7 minutes into these things. Plenty of time for something fascinating to happen.
5:42 PM: Oh, there's the first chance of the game! That one is for the Hawabark Boulders to try and move up the table- Radoslav Jiménez had an opportunity to rip one from distance, at the 18, and it was bending wickedly & wildly, as a scrambling Jaribga goalkeeper could not get a hand to it. He was forrtunate, however- the ball was too high, going just inches above the crossbar for a goal kick.
5:45 PM: Jaribga, of course, has already clinched relegtion. And they're singing about it on the Busoga Islands- it'll be their last game in Banija's second tier, at least for a season. "You know we'll be back. You'll know we'll be BAAACCCCKKK." Of course, they're being drowned out by the away supporters, who have mostly taken over their ground.
5:49 PM: 19 minutes in, and the Herzegovina Phoenix have launched an attack! Laula Gardener plays a long ball to Ardent Blaze, of Freeport, who is suddenly flying up the pitch. Lakiska has made a rare mistake defensively- committing too many players forward- and now they might pay for it in the back! IT's a 3 on 2. Ardent Blaze hits a ball across to Cyprus Oludhe, who lays it off for an open Alexandra Owiti.. WHO SMASHES IT INTO THE BACK OF THE NET! It's always the Phoenix, isn't it?? She has scored the goal that, at least as of right now, has sent the Herzegovina Phoenix from fourth to first! The top of the table! And the away fans are celebrating like it- the away section is in raptures, as they're singing Owiti's praises. This is just the 16th match all season where Lakiska has conceded- out of 42 league matches. Incredible.
5:51 PM: These affairs have been sleepy, but Lakiska SC entered the day on top of the table. But the news of Owiti's goal has filtered to the other grounds- cheers from Rukunbi fans and Hawabark fans at those grounds. You can see as the news reaches the players as well- a Boulders central midfielder takes an ill-advised that ends up nowhere near the goal.
5:56 PM: 25 minutes in, and so far we've just got Alexandra Owiti's goal, in Lakiska, that is the major difference on the day. They've done- oh wait, look at Rukunbi FC go! THey are passing the ball around the opposition box- and Yelee Uster has lofted one in, behind the defense, and Tyrone Barrett is going to volley it, straight in front of the net. Andd... HE HAS DONE IT! THE HAPILOPPER NATIONAL HAS SCORED! What a strike! A volley from the 18 year old to the 36 year old, and suddenly, it's Rukunbi FC who have moved to the top of the table! 1-0 in Istria to Rukunbi FC, as the Istria side are in raptures. It's just the first half- but they've moved ot the top of the table! That live table is moving around.
6:01 PM: Oh, my there's a penalty awarded in the Busogan capitol! It's 1-0 to the Phoenix, but half an hour in, Lakiska SC have a golden opportunity to equalize. They started the day at the top of the table, remember- then the Phoenix moved there, and now Rukunbi sit top, with 92 point in the live table. Who's stepping up for the Busogans? The captain, the maestro, the CM- none other than Hakki Okur. Okur steps up to take the penalty... AND IT'S SAVED! Phoenix Goalkeeper Sabiti Byalugonjo, who is just 22 years old, has made the save of his life- diving left and keeping the ball out of the back of the net! Still 1-0 to Herzegovina.
6:07 PM: Oh, wow, is that an equalizer I see at Eastern Stadium in Istria?? Yes it is! Igulu City FC have shocked the world by finding an equalizer, and making it 1-1! The visiting fans are ecstatic- they are bellowing
"BSL CHAMPIONS- YOU'LL EVER SING THAT" at the home fans. It's the 38 year old striker, Rebecca Camara, who has scored for Igulu City- hitting it straight out of the air. It might be her swan song- what a legacy the Camaras have. Her father is the manager, her son is the keeper. Three generations of Camara on one team- is that enough to keep Rukunbi FC from the title? With that, Rukunbi move behind the Phoenix, and they regain top of the table status.
6:14 PM: AND IT"S A WONDERSTRIKE IN JARIBGA! The visitors have that top-level talent, and it was the other Cardenao international, Theodore Ryūnosuke, who drilled a bicycle kick in the 44th minute to move the Boulders ahead! They are the fourth team today to move to the top of the table- now having 91 points in the live standings. An insane goal- but the ultimate one for the ultimate yo-yo club. Will that be enough to send them to the top of the table?
6:20 PM: All the games are at halftime. Remember, they'll all kick off at the same time again to start half two(selling their souls out to TV smh)- so some halftimes will be slightly longer than others. But wow, what an entertaining. Just 45 minutes- four different teams, at different times, have been top of the table today. And with 45 minutes remaining, it's Hawabark who sit in first place.
HALFTIME SCORES
Jaribga Soccer Club 0–1 Hawabark Boulders
Lakiska SC 0–1 Herzegovina Phoenix
Rukunbi FC 1–1 Igulu City FC
LIVE TABLE
BSL Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Hawabark Boulders 41.5 28 7 7 86 47 +39 91
2 Herzegovina Phoenix 41.5 27 9 6 104 46 +57 90
3 Rukunbi FC 41.5 28 6 8 104 50 +54 90
4 Lakiska SC 41.5 28 6 8 51 19 +32 90
6:25 PM: I don't know I've ever seen such a tight league finish. Four teams in the running on the Final Day- all four, at one point or another, have been on top of the live table. There's sure to be more changes throughout the rest of the day- but if the scores hold for the next 45 in all places, the Hawabark Boulders will find themselves champions of this league for a shocking fourth time- earning yet another promotion to the S-FPL. Surely Jaribga won't stop them- but will goals elsewhere derail their ambitions?
6:37 PM: And everybody's off! All four second halves kick off simultenousely- the intensity is through the roof. Everyone's doing everything they can to try and win the title!
6:43 PM: Oh holy sh*$!, is that a goal in Jaribga?? Yes it is! But that's not for the Boulders- it's for the already relegated Jaribga Soccer Club! The Boulders look stunned- they just conceded to the second worst team in the league, in a game that is a quasi-home game for them! The worst part? It's a goal that was absolutely gifted to Jaribga. Chi-Chi Okorie, their left back, simply played one of the worst passes you'll ever see at this level- a howler. A mishit kick, straight to Jaribga's striker. Jaribga might be really bad at this whole scoring goals thing, with just 35 on the season, but at this level, you're always scoring a 2 on goalie. Tanman Gundogan collected the ball, the keeper came out, he passed it to Immanuel Okelo, who passed the ball into the back of an empty net. The "home" fans celebrated- 51 minutes in, the game is at 1-1.
6:47 PM: The Boulders are stunned. They make an attacking substitution, putting in Akia Luzige at the left wing spot. But can she make the difference? They'll have plenty of time to score- we're only 55 minutes into this game. 35 minutes and stoppage.
6:52 PM: Oh shit, is that all that she wrote in the Busogan capitol?? It's a second goal for the Phoenix, and the Busogan fans are shell-shocked. Just the 2nd time they've conceded multiple goals all season- and both of those games have been against the Herzegovina Phoenix, who have managed to score 30% of the league goals against Lakiska that have been scored all season. It was a simple cross, with the Siovanijan midfielder Slavomir Malik there on the end of it to head home. 2-0 at the one hour mark, against a Lakiska team that has struggled to score. Record-setting defensive pace, but with only 51 goals scored- which is tied for the 6th fewest in the league. A shocking number for a team that came in today, at the top of the table.
7:00 PM: Oh, my that's another goal for Rukunbi! Once again, they've flown ahead to the top of the table. This time it would be the 29 year old striker, Jamuike Belonwu, who would finish at exactly the 7 PM mark for the Hawabark Boulders. The team just seemingly throwing players forward in waves, saw a botched clearance land straight at the feet of Belonwu, who fired on goal- and somehow found the back of the net! Not the greatest goal, but the sweetest- that might be the goal that wins the league for Rukunbi! Wild celebrations as eastern Istria remains in raptures!
7:07 PM: Oh my, what the hell is going on in Jaribga?? Is that a counter-attacking goal? Hawabark continues to throw players forward, trying to get that equalizing goal, and then hoping that Igulu can find something in eastern Istria. But they've given up the lead- and are down to ten men! A corner kick was cleared, and saw Jaribga Soccer Club racing ahead, trying to get a goal, take the lead maybe for the final time before relegation. A tackle from behind came way late- a clear goalscoring opportunity. Penalty to Jaribga. Red card given to the Hawabark defender. Jaribga was ready for that moment, with Ramiah Otongo scoring the penalty. 1-0.
7:12 PM: We're 80 minutes into these matches now. Rukunbi FC are at the top of the table- is this thing settled? There's still plenty of time to change things, but who's going to catch Rukunbi? We wouldn't put our money on Lakiska scoring a trio of goals to win this, right? Unless Igulu City equalize...
7:14 PM: And just like that, an Igulu City Free kick clangs off the post! The keeper knew nothing of it- it was a wicked shot. bending up, over, and around the wall, so much so that the keeper couldn't even dive- he was simply frozen to a spot, watching helplessly as it looked like Igulu CIty's shot would go into the back of the net. But sometimes, to win a league title, you need a little luck on your side- and Rukunbi had some right ball. Ball hit the front of the post, and it was cleared out harmlessly for a throw. 82 minutes.
7:18 PM: And that's a third goal for Jaribga SC! 86 minutes in- Jaribga SC has basically ended Hawabark's chances of winning this league! A shocking loss for a Boulders club who have been so consistent when they are down at this level. You can't control what you can't control elsewhere, of course- but Jaribga has scored another counter-attacking goal. Conceding three goals in a must-win game to win the league, against a team that's already been relegated, is just brutal. Straight up brutal.
7:21 PM: Rukunbi's gonna win this thing! The Farf left back, Arsenio Pradas, heads in a corner here in the 89th minute to make it 3-1, and considering where things are at the other grounds, that's probably all she wrote on this title race! The party's getting started in Rukunbi- they can feel it. Everyone seems resigned to it, you've got a whole section of Istria that's gonna be unpassable, at least for a few days...
7:25 PM: The final whistle's gone in Jaribga, where they have defeated the Boulders, 3-1. It's also gone in Lakiska- where the Phoenix came to their house and won, 2-0. Just the final whistle to confirm things..
7:27 PM: AND THERE IT GOES! Rukunbi Football Club- champions of the Banijan Soccer League! And for the first time in the S-FPL era, they have earned promotion to the Shango-Fogoa Premier League! What a run, what a season! This second Istria club will join the big boys- while the others will shed their tears, and try to figure out what the hell happened on this insane Final Day.
FULL TIME SCORES
Jaribga Soccer Club 3–1 Hawabark Boulders
Lakiska SC 0–2 Herzegovina Phoenix
Rukunbi FC 3–1 Igulu City FC
Final Table Banijan Soccer League
1 Rukunbi FC 42 29 5 8 106 50 +56 92 - League champions, promoted to the BSL, Qualify for the Liga B Champions Trophy
2 Herzegovina Phoenix 42 27 9 6 105 46 +59 90 - Qualify for the Liga B Champions Trophy
3 Lakiska SC 42 28 6 8 51 20 +31 90 - Qualify for LBCT Promotion Playoff
4 Hawabark Boulders 42 27 7 8 86 49 +37 88 - Qualify for LBCT Promotion Playoff
5 Busembe Timberwolves 42 18 13 11 85 63 +22 67 - Qualify for LBCT Promotion Playoff
6 Bunyoro RSC 42 20 7 15 79 82 −3 67 - Qualify for LBCT Promotion Playoff
7 Lwanga Lions 42 17 15 10 84 72 +12 66
8 Dukuma SC 42 18 10 14 53 47 +6 64
9 Askatasuna FC 42 17 11 14 96 64 +32 62
10 Isipongo Flash 42 16 9 17 77 74 +3 57
11 Mamari City 42 14 15 13 57 64 −7 57
12 Amaku City SC 42 16 8 18 51 61 −10 56
13 Kabakono City 42 16 7 19 72 78 −6 55
14 Sororo City 42 14 11 17 25 33 −8 53
15 Igulu City FC 42 12 11 19 69 85 −16 47
16 Ogbordu Diamond FC 42 13 7 22 30 58 −28 46
17 Duntho Sporting Club 42 12 9 21 60 72 −12 45
18 Bwubanza City SC 42 10 11 21 54 84 −30 41
19 Umbazi Metropolitan SC 42 10 9 23 55 76 −21 39 - Will play in BLS Qualifier against Busemlu Park SC
20 Tezirbu Foxes 42 9 10 23 44 80 −36 37 - Will play in BSL Busogan Promotion Playoff against Independence FK
21 Jaribga Soccer Club 42 9 7 26 38 80 −42 34 - Relegated to the Busogan National League
22 Barmos United 42 8 7 27 41 79 −38 31 - Relegated to the Banijan Regional Leagues
LBCT Qualification PlayoffSemifinalsPlayed at the home stadium of the team who finished higher in the league tableLakiska SC 1–0 Bunyoro RSC
Hawabark Boulders 3–5 Busembe Timberwolves
Lakiska SC had a hugely disappointing final day- they went into the Final day at the top of the table, and came out of it not only losing 2-0, but falling from first place to third place, from league champions and promotion to the LBCT Qualification Playoff. For many clubs, that could've been a killer. "Motivation could've lacked, there could have been a mood of depression around the place." Said their manager. "But we're not going to think about what might have been- we're going to think of the possibilities. The chance to play in an IFCF tournament is high, and we absolutely want to take full advantage." In classic fashion, they earned their 28th clean sheet of the season in all competitions(26 in the league, 1 in the Ebrahim Razav Cup Final, and this one), with their midfield and defense simply dominating the game. It's nearly impossible to comeback against these guys- so Batte Sabiti, the Herzegovina City loanee, heading home a header from Xilit-Rilan Ono in the 37th minute, was enough for the Busogans to get a 1-0 win and reach the Playoff Final.
High stakes, of course, to reach these IFCF tournaments. The Hawabark Boulders would host the Busembe Timberwolves- owned, of course, by Espy va Drake, the former Valanora international. The first half was nothing short of spectacular- 6 goals between the two teams saw the two teams level at 3-3 after just 45 minutes, as both defenses seemingly took the day off in favor of high-octane goal scoring. The Busembe Timberwolves have always been about that, fitting in well with their Farf counterparts- well, if you don't include the fact that they, of course, got relegated two years ago, and were 25+ points off the pace to get promoted back. Luzige Musujja scored twice, and Ernie Mabree scored once in the first half for the visiting Timberwolves. Meanwhile, for the host Hawabark team, we'd have Theodore Ryūnosuke, Radoslav Jiménez, and Sadiki Nkanga each scoring for the hosts.
The second half were obviously going to see some changes- nobody ever wanted to concede three times in a half- it'd make any manager go ballistic. There certainly wasn't going to be 6 more- but there'd probably be at least one more. But who would score the remaining goals? Those, in perhaps surprising fashion, would go to the visitors. Darin Nicolas, the right back for Busembe, the team's Chromatik captain, scored the match-winning goal, hitting in an Sadiki Nkanga cross in the 72nd minute. Just a few minutes later, Jeff Finte would come off the bench for Busembe to seal the deal, scoring with a beautiful chip off the counter in the 82nd minute.
FinalPlayed at the Stadium of the Restoration(cap. 91,835) in Busukuma, National Capitol RegionLakiska SC 1–0 Busembe Timberwolves
The Timberwolves scored 5 goals just 5 days prior to this Final, and as both sets of fans packed the national stadium, they were talking a big game that they'd score more. "Man Lakiska- their defense ain't that good. A lot of luck." Said 24 year old central midfielder, Oliver Touray. "We've got a path to scoring on them- we're getting to IFCF competition if it kills us, and then next season, we're going back to the damn S-FPL."
Who knows what next season holds? But for this matchday, Lakiska SC held their record-setting 29th clean sheet in all competitions this season- far and away a Banijan/Busogan/RBSA record, at any level- a record that's likely to last for quite a long time, considering how the game in Banija is moving towards more and more fluid attacking. That kind of defensive ability pretty much deserves to be rewarded with a win in a Final, and the Roos are going to get that win. Once again, it would be a lone, first half goal that would be the difference in this matchup. Zikoranaudodimma Obike headed home in the 22nd minute, and when Lakiska SC takes a lead, against anybody- they can really just suffocate the game.
There's a reason they have 29 clean sheets on the year in all competition, right? A celebration of their defensive tenacity. 26 clean sheets in the league. Both games in the LBCT Qualification Playoff- clean sheets, one at home, one at a neutral site. A clean sheet in the Ebrahim Razav Cup Final. They can defend with the best of them, and while it wasn't quite enough to win the league, they'll at least have a domestic cup trophy(Busogan-specific, of course), alongside the third and final Banijan spot in the Liga B Champions Trophy. The expecations will be high next year- can they meet them?
Busogan Promotion PlayoffIndependence FK 0–1 Tezirbu Foxes (The Tezirbu Foxes will RETAIN their spot in the Banijan Soccer League)
Staying on the Busoga Islands, for the Busogan Promotion Playoff- the Foxes, who finished in the bottom 5 of the league, will take on Independence FK, who finished second in the Busogan National League. But last year, both Busogan BSL teams won their road games in the Promotion Playoff to maintain their spot in the BSL. And this year, the Foxes looked to follow in their example- successfully. Ishak Arslan Age, the #10 for Tezirbu, hit a penalty in the 64th minute, and that was enough for them to earn the 1-0 win away from home. These aren't the greatest matches, after a rough, long, season, to keep your spot in tier 2- but at least the Foxes are not being relegated down to the regional leagues.
BSL QualifierBusemlu Park SC 0–0 Umbazi Metropolitan SC (0–0 AET) (7–6 pen.)
And now, on the Banijan side. We're going to skip straight to the penalty shootout- it was 0-0 after 45, 0-0 after 90, and 0-0 after 120. A miserable match to watch, in earnest. But Busemlu Park SC had a shootout, at home, where they had a legitimate chance to win it. The penalty taking from each team was exquisite. Each team hit their first 6 penalties of the match, with each taker on each side simply stepping up calmly, and burying their penalty. But when Adama Sowe III skied the seventh penalty for Umbazi Metropolitan SC, Busemlu Park SC knew that it was their chance to earn promotion- and they did. With style, as well- nailing a
Panenka straight down the middle.
Umbazi, a founding member of the S-FPL, is now way down in the third tier, while Busemlu Park SC are now promoted to the second tier. Brutal for Umbazi- they were an original remember of the Shango-Fogoa Premier League. Now, they are the first ever S-FPL team to be relegated down to the Banijan third tier- a rough title to take a hold of. Things used to be so much better for them- but you can no longer describe them as anything but a tragedy. It is dark days to be a fan of this team.
And with that, that is the conclusion of Banija's & Busoga's lower tiers!