Hasule insists Villa will still be the team to beat this season

By James Bakama PAUL Hasule accepts Express and KCC will again be a force to reckon with, but believes that they can't deprive champions SC Villa of the title. "It's a fact, whether you believe it or not, we are still the team to beat." He shrugged off the team's recent bad spell, which had them failing to impress in the CECAFA Club Championship and local build-ups. Hasule says fans reacted unrealistically to the team's losses. "These were friendlies where experimentation was the prime target not outright wins." The coach attributes the reaction to a growing mentality of fans also assuming the role of coaches. But he said that losses are now history. He cited their recent wins over Chicago Utd and Police. Villa's preparations have been boosted by the return to the team's coaching staff of Geoff Hudson. Hudson has injected a new sense of discipline in the side. A visit to the champions camp reveals that players now take training more seriously. Hudson, who handled Villa's great side that included the likes of Hasule, punishes every mistake with rigorous exercises. An off-target shot or a blind pass can earn you as many as 20 press-ups. "Hudson is a disciplinarian. Players are now also more time conscious," said Hasule of the new Villa technical director. Hasule is in agreement with the saying that two heads are better than one. "There are things I could easily miss, but this is minimised with two people handling the team." According to Hasule there is no clash of roles. "We have well defined roles. When he is handling strikers, I take on the defenders." Hudson is not yet set to talk to the press. "I am still studying the team. Give me time. I wouldn't like to make mistakes." The champions will however miss the services of Hassan Mubiru. Hasule hastily dismisses the fears saying "Mubiru was only one player. I will have a replacement." But the doubts remain. A questionable defence that was at its worst in the CECAFA Championship also does not make matters any better. Ends