Nine years later, Victors relive Mbale’s Cup heroics
THE 32nd edition of Kakungulu Cup (formerly Uganda Cup), though overshadowed by national team preparations, was undoubtedly one of the most thrilling in recent years.
By James Bakama
THE 32nd edition of Kakungulu Cup (formerly Uganda Cup), though overshadowed by national team preparations, was undoubtedly one of the most thrilling in recent years.
It was rich in shocks with the traditional giants Express, KCC and SC Villa failing to make it to the final for the first time since 1999, when Mbale Heroes beat Lyantonde to become the second upcountry side to win the competition. Gangama, also from Mbale, had won it in 1976.
Victors FC deservedly wound up the action victorious after holding on to a Julius Ongude first half goal in a nail-biting final at Nakivubo on Wednesday.
Both finalists displayed a fast-flowing game with Ongude as the target man in Victors penetrative game. Attacking midfielder, Simon Serunkuuma, was a pain with killer passes from the left, one of which climaxed into the only goal.
Kinyara also had their share in the game. Congolese defender Emmy Longaya was not only firm at the back, but also initiated attacks. It could have easily been a different story if striker Hussein Mbalangu had been on top of his game.
Col. Jackson ‘Bell’ Tushabe, the man behind Victor’s rise to glory, immediately after the victory warned that the success had just began.
“I want to retain this trophy for at least three years,†vowed the retired colonel, who has single-handedly bankrolled the club since its formation in 2001.
It has been a progressive curve for the club that transferred its home ground from Nakivubo to Jinja’s Kakindu stadium this season. Victors reached the Kakungulu Cup quarter-finals in 2006, before advancing to the last four in 2007.
Coach Sula Kato is already on the task of looking for players that will strengthen the club.
Tushabe is a man who likes to set the pace. His innovations include making Victors the first local side to have players’ names on jerseys in 2006. He has gone even a step further to make the Kakindu side the smartest in the Super League.
Kinyara, who have a strong corporate backing from the parent company, Kinyara Sugar Works Limited, may have reason to feel they were better positioned to represent the country on the continent.
The Masindi side’s determination and thirst for silverware was evident in the run up to the final. On top of ejecting league champions KCC, they went on to deny Express a hat-trick of the knock-out cup titles.
But the biggest surprise was provided by little known Pro-Line Academy FC, which kicked out favourites Police FC at the quarter-final stage.
FUFA competition committee secretary Moses Magogo attributed the shocks to a competitive spirit that is fast-taking root in Ugandan football.
“We have instilled the spirit of fair play. Today you no longer have to be a giant or on the right political side of FUFA to be guaranteed victory,†explained Magogo.
Sponsorship for the competition is however an area where FUFA is yet to score. Attractive prizes, like those that have revolutionised the Super League, would likewise lift the Kakungulu Cup to higher levels.
The winners only got sh1m from the late Prince Badru Kakungulu’s family, from which the trophy derives its name.
An entry of a mere 55 teams for an open competition of this magnitude was also a minus.
FUFA now plans to make the event compulsory for all its registered 403 clubs. The entry would give way to teams playing at least eight times to reach the final.
To avoid a repeat of this year’s case where the competition jostled for space with the league and national team programmes, FUFA intends to kick-off its grassroots Kakungulu Cup stage as early as August.
THE 32nd edition of Kakungulu Cup (formerly Uganda Cup), though overshadowed by national team preparations, was undoubtedly one of the most thrilling in recent years.
It was rich in shocks with the traditional giants Express, KCC and SC Villa failing to make it to the final for the first time since 1999, when Mbale Heroes beat Lyantonde to become the second upcountry side to win the competition. Gangama, also from Mbale, had won it in 1976.
Victors FC deservedly wound up the action victorious after holding on to a Julius Ongude first half goal in a nail-biting final at Nakivubo on Wednesday.
Both finalists displayed a fast-flowing game with Ongude as the target man in Victors penetrative game. Attacking midfielder, Simon Serunkuuma, was a pain with killer passes from the left, one of which climaxed into the only goal.
Kinyara also had their share in the game. Congolese defender Emmy Longaya was not only firm at the back, but also initiated attacks. It could have easily been a different story if striker Hussein Mbalangu had been on top of his game.
Col. Jackson ‘Bell’ Tushabe, the man behind Victor’s rise to glory, immediately after the victory warned that the success had just began.
“I want to retain this trophy for at least three years,†vowed the retired colonel, who has single-handedly bankrolled the club since its formation in 2001.
It has been a progressive curve for the club that transferred its home ground from Nakivubo to Jinja’s Kakindu stadium this season. Victors reached the Kakungulu Cup quarter-finals in 2006, before advancing to the last four in 2007.
Coach Sula Kato is already on the task of looking for players that will strengthen the club.
Tushabe is a man who likes to set the pace. His innovations include making Victors the first local side to have players’ names on jerseys in 2006. He has gone even a step further to make the Kakindu side the smartest in the Super League.
Kinyara, who have a strong corporate backing from the parent company, Kinyara Sugar Works Limited, may have reason to feel they were better positioned to represent the country on the continent.
The Masindi side’s determination and thirst for silverware was evident in the run up to the final. On top of ejecting league champions KCC, they went on to deny Express a hat-trick of the knock-out cup titles.
But the biggest surprise was provided by little known Pro-Line Academy FC, which kicked out favourites Police FC at the quarter-final stage.
FUFA competition committee secretary Moses Magogo attributed the shocks to a competitive spirit that is fast-taking root in Ugandan football.
“We have instilled the spirit of fair play. Today you no longer have to be a giant or on the right political side of FUFA to be guaranteed victory,†explained Magogo.
Sponsorship for the competition is however an area where FUFA is yet to score. Attractive prizes, like those that have revolutionised the Super League, would likewise lift the Kakungulu Cup to higher levels.
The winners only got sh1m from the late Prince Badru Kakungulu’s family, from which the trophy derives its name.
An entry of a mere 55 teams for an open competition of this magnitude was also a minus.
FUFA now plans to make the event compulsory for all its registered 403 clubs. The entry would give way to teams playing at least eight times to reach the final.
To avoid a repeat of this year’s case where the competition jostled for space with the league and national team programmes, FUFA intends to kick-off its grassroots Kakungulu Cup stage as early as August.