Will Nsimbe win a second title at KCC?
Aug 02, 2008
IN the past, a gulf in financial resources and depth of talent so often conspired to shape domestic league football into a predictable unit, with giants SC Villa, KCC FC and Express FC the established frontrunners in a three-horse race. However, since the turn of last season, the $5m (sh8.35bn) GTV-
By Fred Kaweesi
IN the past, a gulf in financial resources and depth of talent so often conspired to shape domestic league football into a predictable unit, with giants SC Villa, KCC FC and Express FC the established frontrunners in a three-horse race. However, since the turn of last season, the $5m (sh8.35bn) GTV-sponsorship deal has engineered an appetizing era of unpredictability in the race for silverware.
On the evidence of the pre-season activity, expectations into the coming season have never been higher.
With a couple of sides parading numbers, it should make for an exciting race –– one that will prove rich in excitement and tension, and to an inevitable extent, controversy.
I’m looking forward to seeing how James Odoch in particular re-adapts to Ugandan league football.
It will also be interesting to see how Sula Kato progresses as SC Villa boss.
But that aside, we’ll consider which clubs are set to challenge champions KCC FC, and who will find themselves struggling.
The team that doesn’t just talk the talk but also walks the walk will emerge champions. The question that everyone will rightly ask: Who will that be?
Boroboro Tigers
Club Coach: George Lutalo
Ground: Lira
Key man: Dan Engwedo
Last season: 13th
Prediction: 16
Boroboro will certainly fight hard but the dreaded drop might eventually catch up with them.
They preserved their top-flight status last season at the very last day but do not have the top-level quality players to make it second time lucky.
They rely so much on team captain Dan Engwedo to organize them. Other than former Kinyara star Julius ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, the rest of their three arrivals are unknown products secured from the Northern first division.
Bugerere
Club Coach: Robert Kalule
Ground: Ntenjeru
Key man: Richard Damulira
Last season: Promoted
Prediction: 14
They are swimming in a different river now and the current is against them.
With all due respect to the players who helped them win promotion, I think they are going to find their competence a bit lacking in top-flight football.
Ntenjeru is a football town with great support, but it’s going to be a struggle from start to finish.
Bunamwaya
Club Coach: Richard Wasswa
Ground: Nakivubo
Key man: Caesar Okhuti
Last season: 8th
Prediction: 8
They will be in that mix again of ten teams below the top four, but I can’t see them breaking into the top six. They have a good manager who knows the game and they will have days when they beat the big teams, but they will also have disappointing games. It will be interesting to see how Caesar Okhuti performs.
Wasswa has not bought big but he has bought well. Last season, Bunamwaya seemed to lack depth but Ayub Kisalita and Owen Kasule should present a platform for competition.
Express FC
Club Coach: Jimmy Muguwa
Ground: Wankulukuku stadium
Key man: Badru Kiyega
Last season: 6th
Prediction: 7
Express FC’s bank balance grew with the sale of three prominent figures Abbey Dhaira, Omar Hitmana and Godfrey Kavulu but without their imposing presence, will the Red Eagles show enough spark to contest for any serious silverware?
They have lost virtually the spine of the team and the club hierarchy has not done enough to ship in equally fine replacements.
Daniel Sserunkuuma and Sulaiman Jingo (both students of Old Kampala) —arguably the shortest players in the league — are among the arrivals.
Young players with no experience will improve, no doubt, but I can’t see them finishing higher than mid-table.
Iganga
Club Coach: Kefa Kisala
Ground: Ssaza grounds
Key man: Julius Isabirye
Last season: 11th
Prediction: 15
It may have been a battle at times, but Iganga managed to stay in the top-flight last season guided by their wily coach Kefa Kisala.
Survival will again be their priority especially given the fact they lost five decent players at the end of last season and have since recruited none. Andrew Waisswa and Isimbe have since crossed to Kampala-based outfits Police and Simba respectively.
Kakira FC
Club Coach: Timothy Ayiekoh
Ground: Bugembe
Last season: Promoted
Prediction: 12
Kakira are in a different league now, among the big boys. They will find it tough, and if they stay up they’ll have done a wonderful job.
With a less naturally gifted squad, though, there seems little reason to expect Kakira to excel. They however do have a great collective will and organization, thanks to a canny coach in Timothy Ayiekoh. That aside, relegation survival will be a tall order.
KCC FC
Club Coach: George Nsimbe
Ground: Nakivubo stadium
Key man: Godfrey Kavulu
Last season: Champions
Prediction: 1
Champions again, I think. Like Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United the previous season, George Nsimbe has not rested on his laurels and has added to a winning team.
His ambitions must have helped attract big-name signings Jeremiah Sebuyiira, Godfrey Kavulu, Omar Hitmana, Francis Oringa and Lewin Piyik. They will have amazing firepower.
Kinyara
Club Coach: Leo Adraa
Ground: Masindi grounds
Key man: Hussein Mbalangu
Last season: 9th
Prediction: 9
Kinyara’s transformation from strugglers to Kakungulu Cup finalists last season was nothing short of incredible.
That momentum must continue this season if they are to do battle at the right end of the table. Coach Leo Adraa’s side will now try to prove that last season’s fairytale in the knockout competition was no flash in the pan.
Maji
Club Coach: Salim Isabirye
Ground: Nakivubo
Key man: Kassim Kasawuli
Last season: 12th
Prediction: 10
They are real enigmas. They made last season in confident mood, only to end it in disarray. They pushed the traditional sides all season, only to be pipped in the ultimate stages of every game.
Whether they possess enough resilience this time remains to be seen. Coach Isabirye will look to Umar Bulega for goals, Badru Magala for creativity and Umar Kasule for mettle.
Pre-season arrivals Mood Kawere, Kakembo Geoffrey (both from Simba), Mubarak Tenywa from KCC, Umar Bulega, Ronald Lwanga from Express, Kassim Kasawuli should make the 2007 Kakungulu Cup finalists more resilient.
Mbarara United
Club Coach: Abdu Ssenga
Ground: Kakyeka Stadium
Key man: Steven Turyamureeba
Last season: Promoted
Prediction: 17
It’s fun to have them back after a three-year absence from top flight football.
They will make a fascinating addition to the campaign. One of Uganda’s football well-known names from the West returns to the league — boasting an impressive squad but sadly ill-prepared. Their qualification had plenty of controversy and aside from having to defy their critics; Mbarara will find points much harder to come this season.
Nalubaale
Club Coach: Marin Dorian
Ground: Buikwe
Key man: Geoffrey Sserunkuuma
Last season: 7th
Prediction: 5
Coach Marin’s outfit will be making their second consecutive top-flight appearance, which is fantastic. If they had stuck with the same players they had last year, they would have been in trouble — they were really short of quality. What Nalubaale club owner Steven Njubi has bought is not sensational but should help them compete suitably.
The squad is populated with names well-known in Ugandan football such as James Odoch, Sula Lwanga and Robert Kabanda but will be just good enough to finish mid-table.
Police
Club Coach: Sam Timbe
Ground: Namboole stadium
Key man: Alex Ndugga
Last season: 3rd
Prediction: 4
Disgrace is not the right word, especially with the injuries they had, but to finish third last season after taking command of the league summit for virtually 95% of the entire season was really disappointing.
The Cops were the team with the best defensive record of just 21 goals conceded last season but collapsed in key moments.
Their previous season was built on spirit, organization, discipline and the ability to score goals — and that will not change. What has to change is their character.
SC Villa
Club Coach: Sula Kato
Ground: Namboole stadium
Key man: Steven Bengo
Last season: 2nd
Prediction: 3
What hope for a club that has so far lost three significant figures during the player transfer window?
The all-time league champions have gone into the two previous seasons as favourites only to self-destruct.
The departure of Jeremiah Sebuyiira, Joseph Owino, Yasin Mugabi, Henry Kisekka might be abstract to how far the Blues have fallen. But the Blues also deserve credit for how they’ve fed from their youth system down the years and managed to sustain their title challenge each season.
If new club boss Sula Kato and his recruits Alishe Asuman, Mugume Muhumuza and Isaac Kisuju respond to the club’s attempts of building a more harmonious and eager group, then the Jogoos could be good for third place.
Sharing FC
Ground: Nakivubo Stadium
Last season: Promoted
Prediction: 13
Sharing came through the first division qualifiers in Kampala central comfortably to suggest they could be a threat. Their aim will be to emulate, at least, Victor who finished in the top five in their maiden top-flight appearance.
Simba
Club Coach: Sam Simbwa
Ground: Nakivubo stadium
Key man: Godfrey Wakaza
Last season: 10th
Prediction: 11
No one at Simba will stand for being 34 points behind the league leaders again. After a rollercoaster ride for several seasons, Simba have just about consolidated their place as a side that doesn’t have the clout to seriously challenge beyond mid-table.
They are almost as unpredictable as Express- they could finish anywhere from fifth to, gulp, going down.
URA FC
Club Coach: Moses Basena
Ground: Namboole
Key man: Johnston Bagoole
Last season: 4th
Prediction: 2
The tax collectors are among the three top sides to have made the most highest-profile business in pre-season to raise hopes that Allen Kagina’s outfit could after all be good enough for domestic honors, particularly after collapsing to Kenyan side Tusker at the final hurdle in the CECAFA regional championships.
Cranes’ figures Abbey Dhaira, Joseph Owino as well as Henry Kisekka will add international nous and experience to a squad with depth. They however lack depth at the back and something has to be done before the transfer curtains close on August 31.
Victors
Club Coach: Charles Ayiekoh
Ground: Kakindu stadium
Key man: Simon Sserunkuuma
Last season: 5th
Prediction: 6
I love the magic of a small club doing well and I wish them all the luck in the world during their maiden appearance in the Confederations Cup. But, and it’s a big ‘But’, its going to be a struggle for them to sustain their success on the continent particularly without any significant signings.
Youfra FC
Club Coach: Charles Letti
Ground: Lira
Last season: Promoted
Prediction: 18
Youfra might just have what it takes to survive, but it will be a mighty struggle.
Realistically they must be favourites along with Boroboro to occupy the bottom two places.
IN the past, a gulf in financial resources and depth of talent so often conspired to shape domestic league football into a predictable unit, with giants SC Villa, KCC FC and Express FC the established frontrunners in a three-horse race. However, since the turn of last season, the $5m (sh8.35bn) GTV-sponsorship deal has engineered an appetizing era of unpredictability in the race for silverware.
On the evidence of the pre-season activity, expectations into the coming season have never been higher.
With a couple of sides parading numbers, it should make for an exciting race –– one that will prove rich in excitement and tension, and to an inevitable extent, controversy.
I’m looking forward to seeing how James Odoch in particular re-adapts to Ugandan league football.
It will also be interesting to see how Sula Kato progresses as SC Villa boss.
But that aside, we’ll consider which clubs are set to challenge champions KCC FC, and who will find themselves struggling.
The team that doesn’t just talk the talk but also walks the walk will emerge champions. The question that everyone will rightly ask: Who will that be?
Boroboro Tigers
Club Coach: George Lutalo
Ground: Lira
Key man: Dan Engwedo
Last season: 13th
Prediction: 16
Boroboro will certainly fight hard but the dreaded drop might eventually catch up with them.
They preserved their top-flight status last season at the very last day but do not have the top-level quality players to make it second time lucky.
They rely so much on team captain Dan Engwedo to organize them. Other than former Kinyara star Julius ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, the rest of their three arrivals are unknown products secured from the Northern first division.
Bugerere
Club Coach: Robert Kalule
Ground: Ntenjeru
Key man: Richard Damulira
Last season: Promoted
Prediction: 14
They are swimming in a different river now and the current is against them.
With all due respect to the players who helped them win promotion, I think they are going to find their competence a bit lacking in top-flight football.
Ntenjeru is a football town with great support, but it’s going to be a struggle from start to finish.
Bunamwaya
Club Coach: Richard Wasswa
Ground: Nakivubo
Key man: Caesar Okhuti
Last season: 8th
Prediction: 8
They will be in that mix again of ten teams below the top four, but I can’t see them breaking into the top six. They have a good manager who knows the game and they will have days when they beat the big teams, but they will also have disappointing games. It will be interesting to see how Caesar Okhuti performs.
Wasswa has not bought big but he has bought well. Last season, Bunamwaya seemed to lack depth but Ayub Kisalita and Owen Kasule should present a platform for competition.
Express FC
Club Coach: Jimmy Muguwa
Ground: Wankulukuku stadium
Key man: Badru Kiyega
Last season: 6th
Prediction: 7
Express FC’s bank balance grew with the sale of three prominent figures Abbey Dhaira, Omar Hitmana and Godfrey Kavulu but without their imposing presence, will the Red Eagles show enough spark to contest for any serious silverware?
They have lost virtually the spine of the team and the club hierarchy has not done enough to ship in equally fine replacements.
Daniel Sserunkuuma and Sulaiman Jingo (both students of Old Kampala) —arguably the shortest players in the league — are among the arrivals.
Young players with no experience will improve, no doubt, but I can’t see them finishing higher than mid-table.
Iganga
Club Coach: Kefa Kisala
Ground: Ssaza grounds
Key man: Julius Isabirye
Last season: 11th
Prediction: 15
It may have been a battle at times, but Iganga managed to stay in the top-flight last season guided by their wily coach Kefa Kisala.
Survival will again be their priority especially given the fact they lost five decent players at the end of last season and have since recruited none. Andrew Waisswa and Isimbe have since crossed to Kampala-based outfits Police and Simba respectively.
Kakira FC
Club Coach: Timothy Ayiekoh
Ground: Bugembe
Last season: Promoted
Prediction: 12
Kakira are in a different league now, among the big boys. They will find it tough, and if they stay up they’ll have done a wonderful job.
With a less naturally gifted squad, though, there seems little reason to expect Kakira to excel. They however do have a great collective will and organization, thanks to a canny coach in Timothy Ayiekoh. That aside, relegation survival will be a tall order.
KCC FC
Club Coach: George Nsimbe
Ground: Nakivubo stadium
Key man: Godfrey Kavulu
Last season: Champions
Prediction: 1
Champions again, I think. Like Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United the previous season, George Nsimbe has not rested on his laurels and has added to a winning team.
His ambitions must have helped attract big-name signings Jeremiah Sebuyiira, Godfrey Kavulu, Omar Hitmana, Francis Oringa and Lewin Piyik. They will have amazing firepower.
Kinyara
Club Coach: Leo Adraa
Ground: Masindi grounds
Key man: Hussein Mbalangu
Last season: 9th
Prediction: 9
Kinyara’s transformation from strugglers to Kakungulu Cup finalists last season was nothing short of incredible.
That momentum must continue this season if they are to do battle at the right end of the table. Coach Leo Adraa’s side will now try to prove that last season’s fairytale in the knockout competition was no flash in the pan.
Maji
Club Coach: Salim Isabirye
Ground: Nakivubo
Key man: Kassim Kasawuli
Last season: 12th
Prediction: 10
They are real enigmas. They made last season in confident mood, only to end it in disarray. They pushed the traditional sides all season, only to be pipped in the ultimate stages of every game.
Whether they possess enough resilience this time remains to be seen. Coach Isabirye will look to Umar Bulega for goals, Badru Magala for creativity and Umar Kasule for mettle.
Pre-season arrivals Mood Kawere, Kakembo Geoffrey (both from Simba), Mubarak Tenywa from KCC, Umar Bulega, Ronald Lwanga from Express, Kassim Kasawuli should make the 2007 Kakungulu Cup finalists more resilient.
Mbarara United
Club Coach: Abdu Ssenga
Ground: Kakyeka Stadium
Key man: Steven Turyamureeba
Last season: Promoted
Prediction: 17
It’s fun to have them back after a three-year absence from top flight football.
They will make a fascinating addition to the campaign. One of Uganda’s football well-known names from the West returns to the league — boasting an impressive squad but sadly ill-prepared. Their qualification had plenty of controversy and aside from having to defy their critics; Mbarara will find points much harder to come this season.
Nalubaale
Club Coach: Marin Dorian
Ground: Buikwe
Key man: Geoffrey Sserunkuuma
Last season: 7th
Prediction: 5
Coach Marin’s outfit will be making their second consecutive top-flight appearance, which is fantastic. If they had stuck with the same players they had last year, they would have been in trouble — they were really short of quality. What Nalubaale club owner Steven Njubi has bought is not sensational but should help them compete suitably.
The squad is populated with names well-known in Ugandan football such as James Odoch, Sula Lwanga and Robert Kabanda but will be just good enough to finish mid-table.
Police
Club Coach: Sam Timbe
Ground: Namboole stadium
Key man: Alex Ndugga
Last season: 3rd
Prediction: 4
Disgrace is not the right word, especially with the injuries they had, but to finish third last season after taking command of the league summit for virtually 95% of the entire season was really disappointing.
The Cops were the team with the best defensive record of just 21 goals conceded last season but collapsed in key moments.
Their previous season was built on spirit, organization, discipline and the ability to score goals — and that will not change. What has to change is their character.
SC Villa
Club Coach: Sula Kato
Ground: Namboole stadium
Key man: Steven Bengo
Last season: 2nd
Prediction: 3
What hope for a club that has so far lost three significant figures during the player transfer window?
The all-time league champions have gone into the two previous seasons as favourites only to self-destruct.
The departure of Jeremiah Sebuyiira, Joseph Owino, Yasin Mugabi, Henry Kisekka might be abstract to how far the Blues have fallen. But the Blues also deserve credit for how they’ve fed from their youth system down the years and managed to sustain their title challenge each season.
If new club boss Sula Kato and his recruits Alishe Asuman, Mugume Muhumuza and Isaac Kisuju respond to the club’s attempts of building a more harmonious and eager group, then the Jogoos could be good for third place.
Sharing FC
Ground: Nakivubo Stadium
Last season: Promoted
Prediction: 13
Sharing came through the first division qualifiers in Kampala central comfortably to suggest they could be a threat. Their aim will be to emulate, at least, Victor who finished in the top five in their maiden top-flight appearance.
Simba
Club Coach: Sam Simbwa
Ground: Nakivubo stadium
Key man: Godfrey Wakaza
Last season: 10th
Prediction: 11
No one at Simba will stand for being 34 points behind the league leaders again. After a rollercoaster ride for several seasons, Simba have just about consolidated their place as a side that doesn’t have the clout to seriously challenge beyond mid-table.
They are almost as unpredictable as Express- they could finish anywhere from fifth to, gulp, going down.
URA FC
Club Coach: Moses Basena
Ground: Namboole
Key man: Johnston Bagoole
Last season: 4th
Prediction: 2
The tax collectors are among the three top sides to have made the most highest-profile business in pre-season to raise hopes that Allen Kagina’s outfit could after all be good enough for domestic honors, particularly after collapsing to Kenyan side Tusker at the final hurdle in the CECAFA regional championships.
Cranes’ figures Abbey Dhaira, Joseph Owino as well as Henry Kisekka will add international nous and experience to a squad with depth. They however lack depth at the back and something has to be done before the transfer curtains close on August 31.
Victors
Club Coach: Charles Ayiekoh
Ground: Kakindu stadium
Key man: Simon Sserunkuuma
Last season: 5th
Prediction: 6
I love the magic of a small club doing well and I wish them all the luck in the world during their maiden appearance in the Confederations Cup. But, and it’s a big ‘But’, its going to be a struggle for them to sustain their success on the continent particularly without any significant signings.
Youfra FC
Club Coach: Charles Letti
Ground: Lira
Last season: Promoted
Prediction: 18
Youfra might just have what it takes to survive, but it will be a mighty struggle.
Realistically they must be favourites along with Boroboro to occupy the bottom two places.