Makerere University Business School (MUBS) Coach Charles Ayiekoh says his side can win their Pepsi University League third trophy this season after their 2-0 win over the University of Kisubi (UNIK), away on Wednesday.

He said they badly need the trophy this year because it has been long since they last won.

“We are always title contenders not participants and we are not going to leave any stone unturned in our pursuit of the title this time,” Ayiekoh vowed.

Stuart Magumba and Sharif Ssengendo’s first-half strikes ensured MUBS won their first match in the group stages which they hope to build on in subsequent matches.

“It is no mean feat to win away, every game we play is like a cup final but we should have won by an even bigger margin but it was because we have spent two seasons without playing because of COVID-19,” Ayiekoh noted.

“We have wasted a lot of chances and that is the first thing we have to correct because we dominated but failed to convert. Our lead striker Saidi Munir is still injured but the 2-0 win gives me a good chance to prepare for the big game against Nkumba at home on April 28,” Ayiekoh stated.

Louis Kizito, the UNIK coach, blamed his side for lacking the intensity, especially in the first half.

“We were too slow and so blunt in our attack and gave our opponents too much room to do what they wanted. We improved in the second half but still, we could trouble them in front and this is what let us down,” Kizito noted.

“This game has shown us what we need to improve on and we are going down to work because our target is to get out of the group,”

On Thursday, Nkumba will be hoping to replicate their performance against Muni University when the two sides meet again in the Pepsi University Football League in Entebbe today.

The two sides last met in the un-ended 2020 season with Nkumba walking away 4-0 winners but Nkumba coach Sulaiman Bbosa expects a different challenge in today’s Group B fixture.

“The boys are very happy and excited to be back in action. The last time we played league football we were drawn in the same group as Muni and when we hosted them, we won 4-0 but it does not mean that today’s game will be an easy one,” Bbosa said

 “The team is largely new. We have some old players from the 2020 season but we also have many new talents who are eager to prove themselves. So, we are looking forward to the game and we are confident that we should be able to get a good win,” Bbosa added.

Muni University coach Gilbert Arumadri says today’s game is an opportunity to see how far his team has improved.

“The last time we lost to them was in 2020 and we were meant to host them in the return leg before the league was halted because of COVI, "D-19,” Arumadri said.

 “Playing away is not going to be easy but it is also a good test for us to see how far we have improved. The boys are ready and excited and we are going to give Nkumba a good test,” Arumadri added.

The league continues on Friday with Mbarara University of Science and Technology entertaining 2019 finalists at St. Lawrence University in Mbarara.