For the second season in a row, the Uganda Premier League was won with a couple of matches left as Fufa invoked the 75% rule to hand Express FC the championship.

It was a campaign short on clearly standout players but here is what we think is a perfect Team of the Season.

Samson Kiirya (Wakiso Giants): He may not have kept the most clean sheets but Kiirya has won several points for his club with match-winning saves. He was also named Man of the Match over four times; more than any other goalkeeper.

Enock Walusimbi (Express FC): Naturally a centre back, Walusimbi has done well at right back. Defensively astute and also done well going forward and such has earned him a summon to the national team.  

Azizi Kayondo (Vipers): Kayondo’s energy levels, good tackles and game reading puts him at left back ahead of Police’s Eric Ssenjobe.

Mahmood Hassan (Police FC): A colossus at the back, lethal upfront. Mood’s arrival at the Cops gave them another dimension with his game reading, brilliant interceptions and ability to score goals – 6 in the campaign.

Isa Lumu (Express FC): An unsung hero in the Red Eagles backline. A hard tackler, man marker and an unmatched aerial prowess. He also picked a couple of Man of the Match awards.

Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers SC): Arguably the most intelligent central midfielder in the division at the moment. His range of passing – long or short and a ferocious shot makes him standout.

Shafik Kagimu (URA): The URA skipper has added goals to his game and partly the reason the four-time champions put up stiff competition in the title race. Nine goals and as many assists to his name makes him one to be on the team.

Ismail Mugulusi (Busoga United): Busoga United owe their stay in the PL to this young man Mugulusi. An artist on the ball, wise and timely decision making and won several points for the team as well man of the match accolades as an individual.

Godfrey Lwesibawa (Express FC): Shockingly, Express’ main creator of goals who also bagged double figures (10 goals) in the season.

Yunus Sentamu (Vipers): Started the season five games late but scored for fun and won the top scorer’s boot with 16 goals.

Eric Kambale (Express FC): The league’s MVP thanks to his consistent displays for the Red Eagles. No player won more Man of the Match Accolades than Kambale. 15 goals and over 10 assists is no mean feat.

Honourable Mentions

Simon Tamale (GK – Bright Stars), Mathias Muwanga (GK- Express), Joseph Akandwanaho, Samuel Ssekamatte (B Stars), Paul Mucureezi (Vipers), Viane Ssekajugo (Wakiso Giants), Ben Ocen, Brian Mayanja (Police), Peter Magambo (KCCA)

CAF Women’s Champions League: CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers

• Group A: Lady Doves (Uganda), PVP FC (Burundi), Simba Queens (Tanzania)
• Group B: Commercial Bank FC (Ethiopia), Yei Joint Stars FC (South Sudan), New Generation (Zanzibar)
• Group C: Scandinavian WFC (Rwanda), FAD Club (Djibouti), Vihiga Queens (Kenya)

The draws for the Preliminary stages of the CAF Women’s Champions League, including CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers, have been conducted.

FUFA Women Super League Champions Lady Doves have been pitted in Group A alongside Tanzania’s Simba Queens and Burundi’s PVC FC in the CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers.

Both Simba Queens and PVC FC were Champions of their leagues in Tanzania and Burundi respectively.

The draw had a total of nine teams and these were divided into three groups.

Group B has Commercial Bank FC (Ethiopia), Yei Joint Stars FC (South Sudan), and New Generation (Zanzibar).

Group C has three teams – Scandinavian WFC (Rwanda), FAD Club (Djibouti) and hosts Vihiga Queens (Kenya)

The Zonal Qualifiers will be played from 17th July to 1st August in Nairobi, Kenya with the Champion earning a slot to represent CECAFA in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Champions League in Egypt later this year.

Each of the six Zones will have at least a representative at the final tournament with Union of North African Football (UNAF) and West Africa Football Union B (WAFU -B) getting two slots each.

UNAF will get two slots with a team from Egypt (host Nation) and the other going through the Qualifiers.

On the other hand, WAFU-B got two slots because of having the CAF Women Africa Cup of Nations Champions, Nigeria. Therefore, teams that will reach the final of WAFU- B Qualifiers will make it to the final tournament.

KCCA Football Club has confirmed the departure of Filbert Obenchan.

The defender leaves the Uganda Premier League side club after spending six years at Lugogo, four in the senior team.

Obenchan spent two years in the KCCA Soccer Academy and was promoted to KCCA FC senior team in 2017 along with the likes of Allan Okello, Peter Magambo among others.

“The club thanks Fillbert Obenchan for the wonderful memories over the six years and wishes him the best in his future,” the club said in a statement.

He also had a short loan spell at army side Simba which was cut short and brought back to KCCA FC mid-season of 2017-18.

The utility back had seen himself earn a place in the first team and was a key member of the squad during the successful years of former head coach Mike Mutebi.

Kyetume Football Club has been relegated to the second tier of Uganda’s football pyramid (StarTimes FUFA Big League).

Christened as The Slaughters, Kyetume joins Kitara and Malaba Youth Development Association (MYDA) who return to the Big League after just a single season in the top tier.

The season was prematurely ended with Kyetume on 23 points, MYDA (14) and Kitara (13) with all three clubs having played 27 matches each.

Kyetume’s relegation comes after the FUFA Emergency Executive Committee meeting which convened on Tuesday, 29th June 2021 during which it evoked Article 18, section C and D of the FUFA Competitions Rules, applying the force majeure rule because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

FUFA declared Express as the league champions and will thus represent Uganda at the CAF Champions League and runners-up, URA FC will represent the country at the CAF Confederation Cup.

The FUFA Big League promotional playoffs to determine the third club that joins Tooro United and Arua Hill in the top flight will be held in the future under the guidance of the National Council of Sports (NCS).

The Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) has finally decided on the fate of the 2020-21 Uganda Premier League.

Fufa has ended the season and declared Express Football Club as the champions, with four Matchdays still on the card.

“Express FC who were top of the table declared Champions of the 2020/21 Uganda Premier League,” reads a statement from the Fufa.

Kyetume FC joins already relegated MYDA FC and Kitara as the teams that will play in StarTimes FUFA Big League next season.

The Red Eagles were top of the league table when the season was halted after Government put a ban on Sports activities due to Covid-19.

The new anti-coronavirus measures that include a ban on public transport and gatherings had put restart of competitions unrealistic.

The StarTimes Ugandan Premier League had already played over 86% of games and had thus passed the 75 per cent threshold in Article 18 of FUFA’s competition rules.

FUFA Article 18 of Competition rules:

Where the league format due to circumstances of force majeure fails to be completed within the season, the
league winner shall be determined as follows:
1) Before each and every Club has completed its first round fixture the league shall be declared null and
void.
2) Where all the Clubs in each group have completed the first round fixture but less than 75% league games in either group have been played, the table standings at the end of the first round shall be considered as the final table standing of the league for the respective group/competition.
3) Where 75% or more league games in either group have been played, the following formula shall be used by TOC to determine the table positions for the respective group: Total number of points earned from the number of games played multiplied by the total number of games supposed to be played divided by the number of games played.

Like it was last season when Vipers were awarded the title, the decision was been inevitable this season as well.

Uganda Cranes preparing for the forthcoming CECAFA Challenge Cup fly out of the country for a training camp in Saudi Arabia.

A contingent of 25 players and 10 officials departs Entebbe International Airport at 11:00AM (Local time).

While in Saudi Arabia, the team will play two friendly games against the Saudi National Team on 2^nd and 5^th July 2021.

The team’s preparations that were supposed to start last week were largely affected by the announcement of a countrywide 42-day lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.

At the time the lockdown was imposed, the team largely composed of U23 National Team players was already in camp at Cranes Paradise Hotel in Kisaasi, Kampala.

At the end of last week, the team moved to FUFA Technical Centre where they have been training.

The kick-off date for the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup is 17^th July 2021.

Uganda is the defending champion after winning the last staged edition in 2019 on home soil.

Travelling squad

Goalkeepers: Charles Lukwago (KCCA FC), Eric Kibowa (UPDF FC), Hassan Matovu Muyomba (KCCA FC)

Defenders: Enock Walusimbi (Express FC), Abdu Aziz Kayondo (Vipers SC), George Kaddu (Wakiso Giants FC), Musa Ramathan (KCCA FC), Kenneth Ssemakula (BUL FC), Peter Magambo (KCCA FC)

Midfielders: Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers SC), Abdul Karim Watambala (Vipers SC), Saidi Kyeyune (Unattached), Steven Sserwadda (KCCA FC), Bright Anukani (KCCA FC), Isma Mugulusi (Busoga United FC), Salim Abdallah (SC Villa).

Forwards: Ivan Bogere (Wakiso Giants FC), Saddam Masereka (SC Villa), Julius Poloto (KCCA FC), Richard Basangwa (Vipers SC), Najib Yiga (Vipers SC), Hakim Kiwanuka (Proline FC), Derrick Kakooza (Police FC), Samuel Ssenyonjo (KCCA FC), Steven Dese Mukwala (URA FC)

Officials:

• Morley Byekwaso – Head Coach
• Simeon Massa – Assistant Coach
• Stephen Billy Kiggundu – Goalkeeping Coach
• Rogers Byamukama – Leader of delegation
• Bashir Mutyaba – Team Manager
• Emmanuel Nakabago – Team Doctor
• Lawrence Bwanika – Media Officer
• Samuel Mulondo – Kits Manager
• Hamza Jjunju – FUFA Delegate
• Sauda Babirye – FUFA Secretariat

Vipers SC president Lawrence Mulindwa has advised Fufa and the UPL management to declare Express FC winners of the 2020/21 Premier League.

Mulindwa said this while speaking to Sanyuka TV on Monday live from St. Mary’s stadium, Kitende.

The football season like all other sports activities was suspended due to a presidential directive that ordered a 42 days lockdown.

Fufa recently revealed talks with the government over permission to complete the season but Mulindwa says the 75% rule should be invoked just like it was applied last season campaign to declare Vipers champions.

“I want to advise the Federation and the people at UPL just as they applied the 75% rule last season, they should do it now. In fact, they should have done it yesterday to declare Express FC Champions of this current season. They shouldn’t waste time. The rule is very clear and should be applied,” he said.

Mulindwa also believes that declaring the winner helps in preparation for continental football and a club to represent the nation needs enough time to prepare.

“Anyone going to represent us on the continent will need ample time to prepare, buying players, looking for funds, the earlier we know who is going for champions the better.”

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) has taken the decision to postpone the U-23 Championship by two weeks.

The development was confirmed on Monday after a virtual meeting attended by CECAFA Member Associations.

In a statement released by the CECAFA Executive Director, Auka Gecheo, the tournament slated to take place in Ethiopia will start on 17th July, moving from the initial kickoff date of 3rd July.

“The CECAFA U-23 Championship has been pushed to kick-off July 17th, 2021 in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. The competition was earlier slated to start July 3rd, 2021 but following a meeting that took place today and also attended by seven General Secretaries from CECAFA Member Associations via zoom, it was decided that the competition is postponed by two weeks.”

Gecheo says that the change has majorly been done because of COVID-19 cases in different Member Associations.

“The change was necessitated by some of the Member Associations having their countries go into lockdown due to COVID- 19 and are struggling to get government approval to travel to the event.”

With South Sudan also still playing at the Arab FIFA Cup in Qatar, the CECAFA administrators thought it wise to push the kickoff date by two weeks.

“The change was also made because the South Sudan technical bench and some of their players are currently being quarantined in Doha, Qatar after attending the Arab FIFA Cup and will only travel on the 7th of July, while
the League in Tanzania is also still ongoing and will be completed on 18th July 2021 with some players only being available to travel after it is complete.”

CECAFA decided that this year’s edition will be an Under 23 tournament to provide a platform for the budding players.

Express Football Club head coach Wasswa Bbosa wants the 2020-21 season completed sportingly.

The Red Eagles would claim a seventh league title, their first in over ten years if the season is brought to a halt but Bbosa whose side is still in contention in the Stanbic Uganda Cup says ending the campaign without completion would deny his side a league and cup double.

“For us as a club and an individual, I would love the season ended sportingly,” Bbosa said. “We are table leaders and I believe we shall win the championship and then in the semifinals of the Stanbic Uganda Cup.

“Ending the season off the pitch would deny us a double which I believe is very possible if we completed the season and I hope the government allows us to play again.”

Last season was halted by a countrywide lockdown due to Covid-19 with five games to play in the league and with the Stanbic Uganda Cup at the Round of 16 stage.

Vipers were declared league winners but there was no Uganda Cup winner although KCCA was offered ticket to represent the country in the Caf Confederation Cup.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations president Moses Magogo has revealed that Mike Mutebi turned down Uganda Cranes coaching job.

While appearing on NBS TV, Magogo admitted they offered Uganda Cranes coaching job to Mutebi but the former KCCA and SC Villa manager turned down the offer.

“I am one of those who wishes to have a Ugandan coach,” Magogo said.

“I think so many of them (coaches) are moving in that (international) direction. I also believe Mike Mutebi is one of the coaches who has moved to that level. He is at an international level, his experience against the Arabs, the South Africans, and the Central Africans (is excellent).

“However, incidentally and I will go on record: we offered him this job and he refused it saying he is not ready for the national team at the moment. So, we continue with the search to make sure we get another human being, (whether) Ugandan or non-Ugandan to take on the job.”

Mutebi is one of the highly rated and experienced coaches in the country and currently without a job after leaving KCCA where he won several league titles and cups. He also led the club to the Caf Confederation and Caf Champions League Group stages.

Currently, Abdallah Mubiru is in charge of the team on the interim after Johnathan McKinstry was relieved of his duties.