Coach Ssengabi optimistic as Mutesa University eyes podium finish in UFL
The team made history by qualifying for the quarterfinals in their debut year of participation.
MRU coach Goerge William Ssengabi. PHOTO: Aloysius Byamukama
Aloysius Byamukama
Journalist @New Vision
Mutesa Royal University (MRU) football team coach, George William Ssengabi, is optimistic about his team’s chances of reaching the podium in the ongoing Pepsi University Football League campaign.
The team made history by qualifying for the quarterfinals in their debut year of participation. This follows a hard-fought 2-1 away victory against Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in their final Group F match last week.
The win came after a challenging trip to Mbarara, where they secured maximum points from three matches, finishing ahead of two-time champions MUBS.
Ssengabi expressed confidence in his team’s progress, stating, “We are happy to have come into this competition with determination, and our hard work is paying off. We know the competition gets tougher with each step, but we are ready to fight on. Our goal is to reach the podium.”
The decisive moment came when Akaya Busuulwa scored a stunning header in the dying minutes of the game, breaking the 1-1 deadlock and securing MRU’s qualification.
The hosts, MUST, who have struggled to win a game in the campaign for several years, initially took the lead through Marvin Ssebagala’s goal against a helpless MRU goalkeeper, Fred Mugerwa, ending the first half with a narrow advantage.
However, MRU turned the game around in the second half. Kevin Ayebare’s foul on Busuulwa led to a penalty, which Ali Lutwama calmly converted. Busuulwa then sealed the victory with a last-minute header, ensuring MRU’s progression to the next round.
Reflecting on the match, MUST coach Mohamed Kyagambidwa acknowledged his team’s efforts but lamented the result. “We played well, but the outcome doesn’t reflect our performance. We are a young team still in the building phase, and we hope to finish the campaign with determination to improve. This result is behind us, and we will focus on preparing for next season,” he said.
With nine points in Group F, MRU has secured their spot in the quarterfinals. MUBS, with four points, remains in contention, while MUST faces a near-impossible task of beating MUBS by more than seven unanswered goals in their final game to qualify.