The curtain has closed on another thrilling season across the five major football leagues, culminating in the UEFA Champions League final on June 11, 2023, where Manchester City emerged victorious against Inter Milan.
As the final whistle blew, marking the end of a nail-biting season, ardent football fans worldwide, particularly in Uganda, are left to seek alternative forms of entertainment through television, bars, and social gatherings. For men whose weekends and mid-week nights revolve around football, especially the English Premier League, this time of the year brings a sense of boredom and longing.
Conversely, the conclusion of the Premier League season signifies a chance for others to indulge in their preferred forms of entertainment. It's a time for men to relinquish control of the TV remote, making way for the ladies to enjoy their trending TV shows. However, for devoted football fans, the absence of Premier League action for almost three months creates a void that is hard to fill.
Charles Ssekyajja, a well-known Liverpool fan on social media, laments this period as the coldest and most challenging three months of the year for him.
"Whenever the Premier League starts, I become fully engrossed in the action every week. The anticipation is insatiable. I never think about the time when there will be no football for three months, so when it happens, it feels strange and new," he shares.
Ssekyajja, a single corporate in his mid-age, finds solace in playing snooker and engaging in lengthy conversations with friends during this football hiatus. However, he admits that none of these activities compare to the excitement of a matchday.
During the football break, discussions often revolve around potential player transfers for the upcoming season. Speculations about which player might join a particular club have become an integral part of football conversations, even during the season's conclusion.
Fans eagerly immerse themselves in debates and news surrounding these potential transfers. Currently, Manchester United fans are particularly interested in whether Tottenham Hotspur's forward, Harry Kane, will join their team. Divergent views on potential transfers fuel the football fever during the break.
For comedian and ardent Arsenal fan, Mendo Herbert, commonly known as Museveni or Teacher Mpamire among his fans, the transfer window keeps him on his toes during the season break. He acknowledges that while it's not easy to keep up with transfer news due to busy schedules, learning that his club is in talks to sign a certain player adds excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season.
The name Fabrizio Romano holds significant weight among football fans during the season break, particularly on Twitter. Romano is the go-to source for transfer news, ensuring fans never lose sight of the upcoming season.
Away from transfers, the closure of the Premier League season sparks debates among fans about the new home and away kits unveiled by clubs. Fans scour social media and club websites for fresh looks, and discussions ensue about which club boasts the best kit for the upcoming season. These debates set the stage for rivalries among fans even before matchday one.
The impact of the football break extends beyond the fans to bars and sports telecasting centers known as Bibanda. Watching football at a bar, surrounded by friends or fellow fans, is an unmatched experience for ardent football enthusiasts. Some bars even turn off the music to ensure the commentary can be heard loud and clear. Bars witness increased footfall during Premier League games, especially when clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool are in action. The post-match discussions can continue for hours, keeping the bars bustling with activity.
However, when the football action eventually comes to a halt, bars suffer a significant blow. While Ugandan bars are usually filled with patrons for various reasons, football has proven to be one of the primary contributors to their numbers. The absence of live football games during the break means fewer customers and reduced revenue for these establishments.
Similarly, local sports telecasting centers, known as Bibanda, also feel the impact of the football break. These centers, found in slums, outskirts of Kampala, and villages, offer fans an opportunity to watch Premier League games. In the past, they relied on locally translated films, but now, live football games are their main source of business. When the season comes to a halt, these centers lose their primary draw.
Pay TV companies also experience a lull when football takes a break. For many, the main reason to subscribe to Pay TV is to watch football. Without the allure of live matches, some customers hesitate to renew their subscriptions, unless pressure from family members compels them to do so. The importance of Pay TVs tends to be forgotten during this period, as viewers turn to local news and sporadic highlights of international friendlies.
Multichoice Uganda, a leading Pay TV provider, ensures that customers still receive sports content during the break. Rinaldi Jamugisha, the Head of PR and Communications, emphasizes that football is more than just live matches. Customers can engage with news about their favorite clubs, explore other sports disciplines, and relive memorable matches from past seasons.
Nevertheless, the recent subscription fee hike, which nearly sparked a DSTV boycott among football fans paying for premium packages, highlights the impact football has on subscriptions.
The football season will resume on August 11, starting with a match between promoted Burnley and reigning champions Manchester City. Until then, football fans may have to find solace in supporting other sports disciplines or seek alternative forms of entertainment to fill the void left by the absence of football.
