Uganda Premier League side Vipers SC has confirmed Nikola Kavazović as their new head coach.

Nikola Kavazović has put pen to a two-year employment contract to see him at the St Mary’s Stadium Kitende until June 2026.

The development was confirmed during the unveiling ceremony held at St Mary’s Stadium Kitende today Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

During the unveiling presser, Vipers president Dr Lawrence Mulindwa revealed that acquiring the Serbian gaffer is a huge milestone ahead of the dream of ensuring that Vipers become a professional club.

“Recruitment is a process that takes time and you have to do it very well. We feel this time round we got the right coach,” Mulindwa stated.

“We needed a professional coach. We needed a team player because Vipers is a family and we are doing everything to ensure that we keep the club on a professional path,” he added.

“We are trying to address most aspects that define a professional team. We believe in modernisation and that is why we want to put in place all that entails that, including the right technical team.”

In the same breath, Kavazović revealed that he has come to work and will do all that it takes to achieve with Vipers.

“I am grateful for this opportunity and I want to deliver success. I am a student of Portuguese football and I hold their philosophy,” he said.

“Let me send a message to my players, they may be stars but for me, I have no stars. As a team we have to work it my way so things are going to change,” he added.

Vipers were trophyless last season. The arrival of Nikola Kavazović begins a new era as the club seeks to return to the winning mentality and attain more glory going forward.

• USSSA Games 2024 | Quarterfinals
• Amus College 5-0 Sacred Heart

Amus College secured a well-deserved 5-0 victory against Sacred Heart in the ongoing 2024 USSSA Games at Standard High, Ndejje Campus.

The girls’ football was postponed due to national team engagement, and so the four schools had to come and conclude the unfinished business.

Shayline Opisa fired Amus College ahead with a powerful effort from close range in the third minute of the game.

Midway through the first stanza, Sacred Heart pilled more pressure on Amus College, but the backline stood calm and tall.

Opisa nearly doubled Amus’ lead in the 28th minute, but his effort went directly to the custodian’s palms steps away from the goal line.

With five minutes to end the first stanza, Opisa was gifted through Sacred Hearts’ backline howler and the forward converted from close range.

Four minutes into the second half, Opisa completed a hattrick with a low, powerful strike after beating her marker to pace.

Edina Wanda’s first touch off the well-taken corner found the corner of the net as Amus College kept their candle burning.

Doreen Wandera was on the end of a quick counterattack as Amus College added more salt to the wounds of Sacred Heart.

Other Quarterfinal Fixtures

• Uganda Martyrs vs Kawempe Muslim
• Boni Consili vs St Noa Girls
• Rines SS vs Sheema Girls

She Corporates were announced the FUFA Women Elite League champions after edging Olila High School in the final.

The Nakawa-based side held their nerves to secure a 6-5 penalty shootout victory after a goalless draw in normal time.

She Corporates head coach Isa Hassan revealed that consistency and remaining together shaped the team into a cohesive unit.

“Despite the challenges and relegation we remained consistent and together which helped us shape the team into a cohesive unit,” the gaffer stated.

“The main reason we faced relegation was due to the loss of 60% of our team. Several players departed for lucrative opportunities and greener pastures. However I rose to the challenge and worked with the remaining players,” he added.

Stella Musibika, Anita Arinda, Spencer Nakacwa, Brenda Munyana, Lucy Fiona Atono and Joweria Nagadya converted the penalty shots for She Corporates.

On the other hand, Eunice Ariokot, Dorcus Lwalisa, Mary Lotyang, Doreen Apio, and Oliver Adong also converted their spot kicks for Olila H/S.

The victory ensured that She Corporates returned to the top tier as FWEL champions after one year in the second tier.

Isa added that as an institution they plan on ensuring that they develop players both on the pitch and also in class.

“As a coach my coaching strategy aligns with our partners in Denmark. We [the institution] develop players both in class and later on the pitch,” he shared.

“Coming into the FWSL (FUFA Women Super League), we look at building a team that will compete and not only take part. We have a great assignment of bringing back the lost glory at Nakawa,” he concluded.

Uganda Premier League side Kitara has entered a partnership with FUFA Women Super League side Lady Doves.

The development is a mark meant to fulfil the CAF requirement that a team taking part in any continental tournament ought to have a women’s football team.

Kitara beat NEC 1-0 in the Uganda Cup final, and the victory meant that the Royals sealed a slot in the CAF Confederation Cup.

“We are glad to announce our partnership with Kitara FC as their official Women’s Team for the coming season,” Lady Doves confirmed in a statement.

In the same breath, Kitara stated; “Lady Doves will become Kitara FC’s official women’s team in all its FUFA, CAF and FIFA engagements beginning next campaign.”

The partnership was confirmed in a ceremony that was held at the Golden Castle Hotel in Hoima City.

The document was signed by Kitara FC President Deo Kasozi and Mr Nsingwire Godfrey, the team manager of Lady Doves FC. The Royals’ CEO, Joshua Atugonza, was also present.

The partnership is meant to as well improve football in the region by creating a force that can challenge titles both in the men’s and women’s leagues.

Uganda Premier League side Mbarara City Football Club has unveiled gaffer Charles Livingstone Mbabazi as head coach.

Mbabazi has put pen on a two-year employment contract that will keep him at the club until the 2025/26 campaign.

The club has confirmed the signing of the gaffer on the social media handles on Monday, June 17, 2024.

“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Charles Livingstone Mbabazi as our new Head Coach on a 2 year contract.” The club confirmed.

This will be the third time Mbabazi will be steering the Ankole Lions after the 2018-19 and 2021 stints.

He joins the club as the direct replacement of Wasswa Bbosa, whose one-year tenure came to an end at the climax of the 2023/24 season.

Mbabazi will have a difficult assignment to regain the Ankole Lions’ lost glory.

It hardly went well for the gaffer last season as he was relieved from his duty at Vipers SC before the end of the campaign.

• FUFA Women Cup | Results
• Rines SS 2-1 UCU Lady Cardinals (Agg: 4-3)

Rines SS WFC registered a 2-1 victory to UCU Lady Cardinals in the FUFA Women Cup at Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium in Wakiso.

Rines claimed a spot in the final of the ongoing championship and will play the winner between She Corporates and Wakiso Hill.

To reach the mark, Rines held UCU in a two-all stalemate in the first round of the exciting fixture.

Jovia Nakagolo broke the deadlock in the 15th minute with an early strike to place the UCU Lady Cardinals in the driving seat.

Two minutes later, Nakagolo got another darling chance to extend the Lady Cardinals’ lead but Rines custodian made a stunning save.

In the 42nd minute, Shadia Nankya made a timely block to deny the hosts a leveller.

At the break, the visitors were in the lead thanks to their organised defending in the final minutes of the stanza.

In the 55th minute, the referee awarded the hosts a penalty that was greatly contested by the visitors.

The game was paused for around five minutes until both teams harmonised to continue with the action on the field of play.

Aminah Nabbabi converted from the spot in the 64th minute to restore parity for the hosts.

In the 71st minute, Nakagolo nearly regained the Lady Cardinals’ lead but the effort bounced off the frame.

Immaculate Odaru scored the winning goal for the hosts in added minutes to claim a hard-fought victory.

Umar Lutalo has announced his departure from Uganda Premier League champions SC Villa.

Lutalo joined the Jogoos three years ago on return from Aspire Academy in Qatar.

Last season, he scored 8 league goals, only behind the club’s top scorer Jonah Patrick Kakande as SC Villa ended a 20-year wait for their 17^th league title.

Lutalo, in a statement published on his social media accounts, thanked the club management led by Hajji Omar Mandela, coaches, staff, teammates and everyone associated with the Jogoos.

He becomes the third key player to part ways with SC Villa this off-season. The others are Abasi Kyeyune who was sold to Cleopatra Celemica of Egypt and title-winning skipper Kenneth Ssemakula.

The Jogoos will play at the CECAFA Kagame Cup next month and also represent Uganda at the Caf Champions League.

The FUFA Executive member Rogers Mulindwa has been named the chairperson of the management committee of the Hamz/Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium.

The development was confirmed by the stadium proprietor Ham Kiggundu who anchored Mulindwa in the huge role.

While speaking to the press, Kiggundu revealed that he expects Mulindwa to guide the stadium to further growth but also ensure that the stadium generates an income.

“We expect Mr Rogers Mulindwa to guide the stadium to further growth and ensure that the facility generates income for its sustainability. I have no doubt, Mr Mulindwa will deliver us to the desired destination and I shall give him all the support he needs,” Kiggundu stated.

Mulindwa was the chairperson of the organising committee as Hamz Stadium officially opened on Saturday, June 1, 2024, in a colourful event that pulled crowds.

Mulindwa was equally humbled by the development revealing that he is so grateful for the appointment into such a huge role.

“I am so grateful to Hamis Kiggundu for the task assigned to me,” Mulindwa stated before adding; “This is not a full-time job but I shall offer my best and together we shall direct our focus towards continued improvement of this facility.”

“This stadium is strategically located and we shall ensure it is put to proper use to avoid frustrating the private developer and investor,” he concluded.

The stadium not only has a football pitch but it’s a sports hub that also has basketball and netball courts as well as boxing and kickboxing rings.                                     

The Uganda Premier League Awards of the just concluded 2023/24 season have been launched.

This happened at a ceremony held today, Thursday, June 13 at Kati Kati Restaurant in Lugogo.

According to the League Manager, Paul Bakairamu, the Awards are set to witness fourteen categories based on merit.

The general public ie fans will be directly involved in the process as they nominate their best through the league’s official social media pages in the chosen categories.

“We believe that the public has been following these athletes and so we believe they can nominate the best. Their (fans) involvement in the process continues to show how we value them as stakeholders,” Bakairamu stated.

The board will decide the Platinum Award as they recognise an individual who has had a hand in the development of the league.

But three categories, namely, top scorer, most assists and goalkeeper of the season, already have winners since they are based on statistics.

The nomination process by the public will run from June 13 to 21 before they go through a verification process by a selected committee.

The eventual winners will be announced in a ceremony held at the Sheraton Hotel on Saturday, June 29, 2024.

Categories of the  UPL Awards 

– Player of the season

– Top Scorer of the season

– Young player of the season

– Goalkeeper of the season

– Defender of the season

– Midfielder of the season

– Coach of the season

– Most Assists of the season

– Fair play of the season

– Players’ player of the season

– Coaches player of the season

– Best XI of the season

– Platinum Award

Attacking midfielder cum forward Abas Kyeyune has reportedly completed a move from Uganda Premier League side SC Villa to Egyptian side Cleopatra Ceramica.

Reports indicate that Kyeyune has put pen to a four-year contract that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2027/28 campaign.

The youngster was part of the team that guided SC Villa to the long-awaited 17^th Uganda Premier League title after a drought of 20 years.

But before, Kyeyune was instrumental in the Uganda Hippos side which lost the finals in the All Africa Games that were previously held in Ghana.

Kyeyune joined SC Villa after a thrilling performance with UPDF FC. He is expected to continue his growth with the Egyptian side.

Reports further indicate that the deal was worth USD 13,000 as SC Villa smiled away after putting pen to paper in the deal.

The youngster becomes the fifth Ugandan to play in the Egyptian Premier League. The others are Joseph Ochaya, Joachim Ojera, Travis Mutyaba and Allan Kyambadde.