TheUgandan Sports desk brings you a comprehensive review of every Azam Uganda Premier League team’s season so far. The league takes a two months break and returns in February as they give leeway for the Uganda Cranes preparations for AFCON finals due in Gabon.
By Stephen Muneza Kagabo for www.theugandan.com.ug
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Kampala Capital City Authority
So far: Inspired by veteran Geoffrey Sserunkuma, they finished 2016 at the summit. Mike Ray Mutebi’s side have been marginally more consistent that the rest of the natural order having managed to collect 31 points from 15 games.
They finished the first round with 10 wins, two draws and three defeats, all the dropped points were away from home but also take a 100 percent home record into the break with 26 goals scored while only 14 were conceded, failing to score in just one game, against URA in Lugazi.
What they need: To hold their nerve and stay injury free. There has never been a better chance for Mutebi and KCCA to prevail.
Kirinya-Jinja Senior Secondary School
So far: Nothing short of a disaster. The optimism of last season when they were promoted is gone along with Alex Isabirye, replaced in the last defeat by Abbey Bogere Kikomeko. KJSS remain in a downward spiral, 23 points adrift with just nine draws and no win. They are doomed with the problems exacerbated by the flawed football politics of head teacher and patron Mrs Dinah Nyago.
What they need: A miracle.
Proline FC
So far: Difficult start to their new season in top flight, not helped by some unfortunate recent injuries to key players, particularly captain Simon Monie Mbazira who joined the Lugogo club in 2007. But the recent win over Kirinya-Jinja SS and a draw with The Saints lifted confidence and instilled the belief in Mujib Kasule’s 13th placed squad that they can avoid going straight back down.
Kasule has refused to compromise his footballing principles and like fellow newly-promoted teams, KJSS and Onduparaka, this team have been a breath of fresh air with clean passing football despite as much as ten games and winning only two.
What they need: to finish off their good approach play with more goals and stop conceding from set pieces. If they maintain current average of a point a game, it should be enough.
Express FC
So far: How the mighty of fallen. The former champions have unravelled, Wasswa Bbosa has departed and Matia Lule’s task is now all about salvaging the campaign and avoiding relegation. Their latest embrassment was on Friday at Kakindu where Daniel Shabena scored in the 28th minute to give relegation candidates JMC Hippos their first win of the season. The fourth defeat left Express midway the log with 19 points, closer to relegation than they are to being battling reigning champions KCCA.
What they need: To climb the table as a must.
Jinja Municipal Council Hippos FC
So far: Now under George Lutalo Bbosa as head coach since the sudden departure of James Odoch, the Jinja side know they are in for a dogfight having posted just one victory – against Express – over a top-half side. They have seven points on the log, 25 points adrift of leaders KCCA. But they are a well-organised, cohesive and motivated outfit which should stand them in good stead.
What they need: Strengthening all over the field after missing out on a number of targets before the season started due to lack of finances.
Bright Stars
So far: Seventh place (four wins, 8 draws and three painful losses) does not reflect how well Fred Kajoba’s men have played at times claiming notable scalps. New signing Fred Segujja, and striker Yubu Bogere increasingly impressive.
What they need: Cover for Abdulnoor Kanana in central defence, win more away games and to tie down former SC Villa goalkeeper Nicholas Sebwato and Segujja this January.
Soana FC
So far: Punching above their weight in fifth and could have been pushing a top three spot had they been able to convert a couple of five draws (just like The Saints) into three points. Hamstrung (quite literally) by an injury crisis the head coach Sam Ssimbwa believes was down to the training pitches at their old training base at Naguru and the hard turf at Kavumba Recreational Centre where they host League games from.
What they need: They should call upon the experience of Ibrahim Ayub Kizza, touchline hugging winger Dan Wagaluka, Crespo Asiku for direction, no more injuries and a few more wins.
Sadolin Paints FC
So far: Three points above the relegation places is not a position coach Simon Kirumira or the loaded Jinja club can be happy with and an average of less than a goal a game shows where they have struggled. The Painters are 10th with 17 points but it is very clear the ongoing sulk and drought of striker Fred Kyambadde is a distraction they could do without.
What they need: To get Kyambadde out of the door as soon as possible and instead buy some descent experienced players.
Uganda Revenue Authority
So far: All going swimmingly in sixth place and with the tightest defence in the league. URA will count themselves back n contention after important victories as the final match day of the first half of the season yielded three vital points from a Peter Lwasa late goal. URA went into the game on the back of a 2-2 draw with SC Villa and have drawn all their games against the big teams; Vipers and Express.
The tax collectors go into the new year with 22 points but had already been written off as contenders this season after being dogged by a match-fixing scandal. By beating the leaders on Friday to keep the slim hopes of winning the title and need a belief that this time they can last the course.
What they need: Kefa Kisala to work his magic in the January window. The squad he inherited is not good enough.
Vipers
So far: All seemed to be going well when they beat KCCA at the end of September but then form nose-dived amid rumours of dressing room problems and led to Abdallah Mubiru being fired, too hastily in many people’s view.
While owner Lawrence Mulindwa looks for a replacement, caretaker Richard Wasswa has steadied the ship with a win and a draw in the last two games. With just 20 points collected, Vipers were 11 points behind log leaders KCCA.
What they need: Goals. Vipers have their lowest total of goals at the half-way stage in the last five years.
BUL FC
So far: Disappointing. There have been brief highlights such as the wins over Express and a comprehensive 3-1 derby victory over JMC Hippos, but otherwise the gloom has been unrelenting. Frank ‘Video’ Anyau needs time to shape his squad, but he also needs a good half season transfer window to lead his side away from the relegation zone with just 13 points.
What they need: BUL have one of the worst attacks in the League and one of the leakiest defences. Anyau must resolve that and eke out more consistency.
Lweza
So far: Inconsistency has dogged their campaign with November a particularly poor month despite conceding just 15 goals thus far, six less than the worst defence of JMC. Their current 8th is firmly in ‘could do better’ territory. Injuries have contributed but they have not looked as vibrant with striker Hassan Kikoyo a shadow of his former self.
What they need: The poor form of James Kasibante makes a striker a priority although given Ibrahim Kirya’s usual style he is likely to come from left field.
The Saints
So far: Sold to the Ugandan Army, UPDF at the beginning then started to struggle, raising serious question marks over Moses Basena’s future. The Saints who ended last season on a high note after securing the services of the Ex- URA boss in the second round of the season have had trouble this season killing off their opponents even when they have enjoyed a lion’s share of possession. After Saturday’s a 2-2 draw with Proline, the Bombo side stay rooted in 11th place with 17 points.
What they need: Basena who attributes their patchy start to the season to The Saints-Simba merger. Thus the club needs to change its mentality and become harder to beat. Is CDF Gen. Katumba Wamala listening?
Police FC
So far: An inability to hang onto leads is proving costly and but for Sadat Kyambade’s goals their predicament would be worse.
The cops currently sit only one place – and just one points – above drop zone and relegation remains a threat in the most competitive Uganda Premier League season so far, especially as they are short on goals – they have scored just 10 in 15 games (in 13th place have picked 14 points from three wins, five draws and seven losses.)
Club Chairperson, Asan Kasingye this week terminated contracts of team captain Godfrey Kateregga and his vice Saddat Kyambadde who play as defenders for involvement in match fixing.
What they need: Angelo Lonyesi seems tired so a new coach should be hired as soon as possible to stop them drifting plus a striker or two. Talented squad but must not believe they are too good to go down.
Onduparaka FC
So far: Beyond all expectations. After the great promotion under previous coach Alan Kabonge who later was fired for lack of qualifications, many wondered if Leo Adraa was the right appointment and though the Caterpillars might struggle in the topflight.
But the seasoned coach has carried on Kabonge’s good work, instilled his own philosophy and at the half-way stage Onduparaka look good enough in third place, if not to quite sustain a title bid, then certainly finish in the top four. They have a superb work-ethic, great discipline and spirit and in newly crowned Uganda footballer of the year Mohammed Shaban and Gadhafi Gadinho two of the best strikers in the country now.
And for Arua-based Onduparaka, who have enjoyed a fairy-tale-of-sorts start to their first ever premier league appearance, concluding the first round with a victory on the road (1-0 aganst Sadolin Paints) will have inspired more confidence within the camp for what could be the club’s greatest season.
What they need: To resist any potential bids for Shaban and Gadhafi and carry on believing they can break the monopoly of the so-called big clubs based in Kampala.
SC Villa
So far: Been slightly under the radar because of KCCA and Onduparaka’s exploits but are beginning to make people sit up and take notice, especially after demolishing Express and Vipers before drawing at URA’s Lugazi base.
Assistant coach Shafik Bisaso has adapted quickly after the firing of his boss Deo Serwadda and assembled a workmanlike team who have one of the best defensive records in the top flight – just 17 goals conceded in 15 games. And the attacking spearhead of Tabu Vitalis and Alex Kitata gives them a real cutting edge.
What they need: Already have 31 points – so barring a complete collapse look pretty equipped. But if they can repeat points haul in second half of season will be on course to compete for the trophy with eternal rivals KCCA.
