Football is such a cruel game that does not pay respect to the reputation of a club and Express Football is a fantastic example.
 
A once treasured, fearless, and formidable club in the Uganda Premier League is being haunted by its ghosts and cannot forge a way forward. 

Express FC currently sits 8th having registered twenty-five points from seventeen games in the ongoing UPL 2023/2024 season and six points behind fourth-placed NEC FC. 

From the outlook, they are still in contention for a top-four finish or finishing high in the table based on their current position but that picture flatters the “mukwano gwa banji” club that has incredibly been inconsistent at levels.

Both players and fans have always been the cornerstone for Express FC in the years they were tussling for the title with KCCA Football Club, Sports Club Villa before Vipers SC changed the status quo.

Even their recent success in 2021 under the stewardship of coach Wasswa Bbosa, Isaac Mwesigwa (Chief Executive Officer), and the chairmanship of Kiryowa Kiwanuka would be partly attributed to the fans and players. 

However, the recent boycott from players for not being paid for nearly three months and fans calling for Alex Isabirye’s head after losing two of their opening three matches in the second around of this season is indicative of the lost confidence and faith in the club. 

Once again, Express find themselves needing another reset after the latest one failed. After their former chairman, Kiryowa Kiwanuka stepped aside in 2022 to allow someone else or other people who are fully committed to the club and install new structures that would steer the Wankulukuku-based side to the next level.

The new management seemed all charged with restoring the club to where it belongs, to its glory days, however, their efforts are leaving a graveyard instead. 

As all know for a club like Express to transition from a club defined by one big Amman syndrome would take more than just a change in guard. The fallout with fans and players can be explained by many things but one stands out, management's failure to meet the fan's needs which should be among its top priorities.

Every club's success relies on fan engagement because at the end of the day, the product you are producing must be good enough to keep the fans who are the biggest consumers thus attracting sponsors to invest in the club for future sustainability.