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KCCA FC has confirmed the departure of nine players who have left the club ahead of the 2023/24 season.

The players leaving have either run down their contracts or have mutually agreed with the club to terminate their contracts according to a list on the club’s website.

1. Benjamin Ochan (End of Contract)

The Captain has been serving the club for his third stint. He signed a two years contract from 2021 until the end of June 2023.

2. Brian Aheebwa (End of Contract)

Aheebwa signed a three years contract from 2020 till the end of June 2023. He has run down his contract.

3. Ali Mwirusi Ramadhan (End of Contract)

The KCCA Soccer Academy graduate has run down his contract with the club.

4. Geofrey Wasswa (End of Contract)

Wasswa signed a two years contract from 2021 to 2023. He has run down his contract.

5. Brian Majwega (End of Contract)

Majwega signed a two years contract from 2021 to June 2023. He has run down his contract.

6. Allan Okello (End of Contract)

The Soccer Academy graduate rejoined KCCA FC on a season long loan from AC Paradou and his loan deal ended in June 2023.  

7. Mustafa Kizza (Contract expires on 31st July)

In the second round of the 2022/23 season, the Soccer Academy graduate rejoined KCCA FC on a six months short contract until 31st July 2023.

8. Brian Kayanja (Mutual Termination)

Kayanja joined KCCA FC in 2021 for three years. He made his debut in 2022 and was later loaned to Maroons for the second round of the 2022/23 season. He has agreed with the club to mutually terminate his contract.

9. Denis Iguma (Mutual Termination)

Iguma joined KCCA FC in 2020 for two years. In 2022, he renewed his contract with the club until 2024. He has agreed with the club to mutually terminate his contract with the club.

Youngster James Mubezi has been handed a senior team contract for five years from 2023 – 2028 by KCCA FC.

The Left Center Back has previously been in the club’s reserve side for the 2022/23 season.

Mubezi was signed from Mbale Heroes FC in 2022 and was part of the KCCA FC U20 side that won the Cambiasso U20 tournament in Daresalam, Tanzania in July 2022.

Mubezi had been sidelined due to a toe injury but upon recovery from injury, he has been training with the senior team throughout the 2022/23 season.

The club website spoke to James Mubezi and he had this to say;

I feel so delighted to sign my first contract with KCCA FC. This is a dream come true. I have been working so hard to impress the technical team and I am glad I caught their eye. I want to continue working hard and become a mainstay in the starting team. I have been around the club for a year and I have now acclimatized to the environment. I cannot wait for the pre-season and the season to start so I can get going

James Mubezi on signing his first contract for KCCA FC

Lango Province and Acholi Province got off to winning starts as the 2023 FUFA Drum group stages got underway on Saturday.

At Rukungiri stadium, hosts Kigezi fell to a 0-1 loss to last edition’s finalists Lango in the first encounter of Group B.

Man of the Match Norman Odipio’s 9th-minute strike granted Lango victory on the road to go top of the group.

At Boma grounds in Kitgum, Tito Okello’s 19th-minute strike is all Acholi required to defeat Teso Province side to go top of Group A which also has Ankole Province.

Sunday action will have two games, Bugisu Province entertaining Busoga Province in the Eastern Derby at Mbale stadium.

Inaugural winners Buganda will face Bunyoro Province at Kavumba Recreation Center.

England national league outfit Ebbsfleet United Football Club has signed Ugandan-born forward Nathan Odokonyero from Isthmian premier side Bognor Regis Town for an undisclosed fee.

The Northfleet – Kent-based entity which is managed by Dennis Kutrieb announced Odokonyero’s arrival on Saturday, 15th July 2023.

“Dennis Kutrieb has added to the Fleet’s 2023/24 squad with the capture of Bognor Regis Town striker Nathan Odokonyero for an undisclosed fee.” the club statement read.

Odokonyero, 20, scored 25 goals in the Isthmian Premier during the 2022/2023 season.

He was among the top three scorers in that division, having netted 11 more goals in the season before aged just 17 after stepping up from Lincoln City’s academy.

Odokonyero rose through youth systems at Chelsea and Brighton before settling up north with Lincoln City

He moved to Bognor Regis Town in 2021, firing goals galore for the Rocks across the past two seasons.

“He’s an interesting signing for us now and for the future and one to develop in the right direction. He’s very young and I wouldn’t be surprised if he can make his way even higher. I can see his work rate, I can see his talent and quality so it’s a really positive move for us,” Ebbsfleet United head coach Kutrieb noted.

“For me to grow and develop, I felt the time was right for the move to a better league and a team like Ebbsfleet suits me down to a tee so it was an easy decision to join. Ever since I’ve come in, I’ve enjoyed it so much and it’s great to sign for the club,” Odokonyero, as quoted by the club website noted.

During a well-crafted unveiling video, Joao Gabriel Esteves Cardoso revealed it’s the exciting playing style that attracted him to the Lugogo-based side.

The Brazilian youthful forward becomes KCCA’s first signing in the ongoing transfer period.

“I am impressed with their style of play, and I think I can fit in well with the team,” Gabriel said during his unveiling interview.

“I am so excited to experience the African culture and to play in front of the passionate fans,” he continued.

The Brazilian youngster underlined his interest in playing in Africa and that could be another reason that pulled him to MTN Omondi Stadium.

“I have always been interested in playing in Africa, and I have been following KCCA FC for a while now.”

The Kasasiro has spent three seasons without lifting a trophy and Gabriel expressed his plans of helping them win titles.

“I want to help KCCA FC win the league title. I also want to make a positive impact on the team and help them reach the next level,” he stressed.

“I think African Football is on a rise. There is a lot of talent coming out of Africa and I think the continent is becoming more competitive.”

He has previously played for Brazil’s Flamengo (U-20), ADC Cabofriense and Germany’s FCA Darmstadt.

A brief about Joao Gabriel

Name: Joao Gabriel Esteves Cardoso
Position: Forward
DOB: August 21, 2001
Age: 22

Goalkeeper Mathias Muwanga has joined Rwandan side Etoile de L’est FC.

Etoile de L’est FC is a newly promoted side to the top-tier football league of Rwanda.

Muwanga had earlier agreed terms with SC Villa but Etoile de L’est’s hefty deal lured the custodian.

The former Onduparaka FC custodian joined the side after signing a one-year-employment contract as a free agent.

“Etoile de L’est confirm the signing of Onduparaka goalkeeper Mathias Muwanga from Uganda,” a statement from the club read.

Muwanga has been named the Goalkeeper of the Year award twice in the Uganda Premier League (UPL) in 2016 and 2021 for Sadolin Paints and Express respectively.

He joins the long list of Ugandan players who have switched to the Rwandan Premier League.

Uganda will be locking horns with Rwanda in the second leg of the 2024 Women’s Olympic Football Qualifiers at Pele Stadium in Kigali on Sunday.

The two sides earlier played the first leg on Tuesday last week and the tie ended 3-3 in a stalemate. Uganda lost the lead twice due to avoidable defensive mistakes.

Crested Crested gaffer Ayub Khalifa believes they have prepared well and he believes the earlier mistakes will be rectified in the upcoming duel.

“We have had a good training session. We are trying to rectify the mistakes that we observed in the first leg,” he said ahead of the game.

“Most of the mistakes came from our backline and that is where we have put most of the emphasis,” he added.

“We scored thrice and conceded thrice. That speaks volumes, but we shall try and rectify all that and stage a better show in the second leg.”

In the same breath, Fauzia Najjemba underlined the need to improve to see that they register the much-required win.

“We have tried to rectify the mistakes done and we hope to improve in the coming game. All the players are in a good mood and we hope to register the win so that we keep our dream much alive.”

The winner between the two sides will advance to the next qualifying round where they will face African giant Cameroon.

Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic says Uganda Cranes have a chance after learning opponents in their way to the 2026 World Cup.

The draws were conducted on Thursday and Uganda was in Pot 3 before it got pitted in Group G alongside Algeria, Guinea, Mozambique, Botswana and Somalia.

“We have been drawn in a very tough group but I believe we have a chance to go through,” Micho said.

“Algeria are the favourites but we have shown in the ongoing AFCON qualifiers, we can play against them,” he added.

“In both games, it was small details that made the difference, but this time we shall be very tough competitors against them.

“Obviously we are a very competitive team, and when you look at our opponents over the last couple of months, they have been impressive and that speaks volumes about their competitiveness,” he added.

In each group, the winner will get a direct ticket to World Cup. Those will be followed by the best four group runners-up playoff to tell who goes to the inter-confederation playoffs.

The World Cup qualifications will start in November this year and run until October 2025.

Uganda Cranes will face Algeria in the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as per the draw held on Thursday.

The Cranes were placed in Group G which also houses Guinea, Mozambique, Botswana and Somalia.

The winner of the Group after playing in a home and away, round-robin, format will qualify directly for the FIFA World Cup which will be hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The four best second-placed teams across the nine African Qualifying groups will have a chance to compete in a play-off.

It should be noted that Algeria is in the same qualifying group in the ongoing AFCON Qualifiers (Group F) as Uganda and the North Africans have won both ties, 2-0 in Algiers and 2-1 in Cameroon.

When will the matches be played?

Matches will take place over ten matchdays during the next two years starting November this year. Below are the windows during which the qualifying matches will be played.

The Qualifying Groups (Africa)

Alex Isabirye has officially resigned from his role as head coach of Vipers Sports Club.

After widespread rumours that the former BUL FC gaffer was sacked, Isabirye has tendered his resignation letter to the office of Vipers SC CEO.

The letter comes shortly after he had been summoned by the club’s disciplinary committee for not turning up for duty without informing the club’s management.

“I am writing to confirm my formal resignation from the position of head coach at Vipers SC,” the leaked document partly read.

“This is due to a breach of my contract. Article 5, section 3 and 4 of my employment contract states that I am responsible for endorsing players being recruited and choosing my assistant coach in consultation with the club’s management,” the letter adds.

Isabirye’s short stay at St Mary’s Kitende will be greatly remembered for guiding the club to a domestic double when they lifted the club’s sixth UPL title and third Uganda Cup.

His magnificent success in a short leaves the club’s fans, pundits and football fraternity wondering whether Isabirye’s resignation was the best choice for both parties.

The development sends the club back into the market to search for a coach who will see them through the CECAFA Kagame Cup and CAF Champions League qualifiers that are knocking on the door.