Why KCCA won the league title

KCCA on Tuesday won the league. So what exactly is it that helped the Lugogo side cruise to their 12th title with two games left?

New Vision Sport looks back at the season highlighting the points that set the new champions a class apart.

Best facilitated side

KCCA have been the best facilitated side. With all their players on the City Authority's payroll, facilitation was never a problem. This in effect meant that motivation was always high. Further boosting the club was sponsorship from Star Times, Britam and Prime Media.

Professionally run

KCCA have undoubtedly been the best run team. Right from its top brass led by KCCA Executive Director Jennifer Musisi and club Chairman Julius Kabugo to the coaches and players, the club operated as unit oiled by discipline.

Fittest team

KCCA were undoubtedly the fittest team. This came with numerous hours of preparation. KCCA were the only side that consistently had two training sessions almost daily.

Geoffrey Sserunkuma

His 20 goals are largely the reason KCCA have won the title. The league's top scorer was always on top of his game. Every single one of his goals have been crucial and, if he hadn't been firing them in, then KCCA would almost certainly have failed to get their hands on the title.

Home advantage

The artificial turf in the Phillip Omondi stadium was a pain to almost every opponent. By the time teams' got to grips with the ground, KCCA would always be well ahead. Arua side Onduparaka were biggest victims at Lugogo losing 7-0.

"That ground is a real problem. You must have at least two training sessions on it before mastering it," said coach Livingstone Mbabazi after the defeat.

Vipers were the only visiting side that managed to solve this jinx with a win in Lugogo while the only draw was by URA. KCCA won all the rest of the games.

Experience

Experienced players like goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan; defender Habib Kavuma; midfielders Isaac Kirabira, Ivan Ntege, Muzamiru Mutyaba and striker Sserunkuma formed a pivotal nucleus of the team. This group then helped revelations like Allan Okello and Derrick Nsibambi gel in.

Soft opposition

When KCCA lost, their closest competitors also lost. As the race got into the home stretch with KCCA faced with stiff opposition in Villa, URA, Vipers and Express, the Lugogo side lost four points. This should have been an opportunity for Villa to raise its game but it also lost to Express, drew with KCCA then Police thereby handing KCCA the trophy.

Opponents not focused

KCCA's closest opponents lacked focus. This was at least going by the frequency with which they fired coaches. Villa has had three coaches; Vipers have also had three while Express and URA have each had two.

International exposure

Ordinarily you would have expected KCCA to be drained by the busy local and international schedule. That however didn't as KCCA instead seem to have gained lots of experience which at the end of the day thrust them a level higher than their competitors.

Winning mentality

Thirst for victory is one of those things coach Mike Mutebi seems to have instilled in the team. Throughout the season it was always evident that KCCA were hungry for wins.