Talented forward, Isaac Wagoina has bid farewell to Uganda Premier League side Express FC.

The development was brought to the public in an emotional letter released on Wagoina’s social media handles today, Friday, July 5.

“It’s with a heavy and teary heart that I write to you about my departure from the club. I must say it’s one of the hardest decisions to jot down in my life,” the forward penned.

“To my teammates, you have been phenomenal during my stay at Wankulukuku. Sharing the dressing room with you is what a player would ask for, but I am very glad our paths crossed. I wish you nothing but the very best wherever life takes you,” he added.

In the previous campaign, Wagoina was Express’ most utilised player featuring in 29 games and managing to score 14 goals.

Reports indicate that the forward is soon sealing a permanent transfer to UPL side BUL FC.

Express finished 12th on the 15-team log in a dull campaign, and Wagoina was one of the bright spells in the Red Eagles camp.

Uganda Premier League side Express Football Club has confirmed the departure of five more players.

The five players are goalkeeper Martin Ssenkooto, defenders Denis Otim, and Ashraf Mbaziira, and forwards Sheif Batte and Jonathan Agoucha.

The development was confirmed on Thursday, January 25 through an official statement posted on the club’s official social handles.

“The club announces the departure of Denis Otim, Sheif Batte, Martin Ssenkoto, Jonathan Aguocha, and Mbazira Ashraf. The Club is grateful for the time they have spent with it wishes them the best in their future endeavours,” the statement reads.

Defender Otim walks away from the club at the end of two and a half years contract. He walks away from the club without commanding a starting place in the starting lineup.

The forward Sheif Batte also walks through the back door having played eight league games but scoring no goal.

Since the arrival of gaffer Alex Isabirye, Express has turned around its campaign gathering 25 points in the 15 games played in the first round.

Uganda Premier League | Saturday Results

• Express FC 1-0 Bright Stars
• URA FC 1-0 Wakiso Giants

Express FC extended their impressive run with a 1-0 victory against Bright Stars in the Uganda Premier League on Saturday.

It was the third victory of the campaign but the first at home for the Red Eagles to send a warning message to the other teams in the league.

It was a dream start for the hosts as Alpha Thierry Ssali scored early in the third minute to kickstart the party.

Ssali was in the perfect place to collect and fire home capitalizing from Fiat Cleophas’ dummy clearance.

It was the only goal in the game eventually giving the hosts bragging rights on the day.

Bright Stars got their first chance of the game in the 30th minute as captain Nelson Senkatuka witnessed his long-range effort being palmed away by goalkeeper Abdul Kimera.

The victory moved Express into the third position with 10 points, two shy of the summit.

On the other hand, Bright Stars suffered the second loss of the season, drawing the other two games played.

They are now 13th with two points, two positions away from the drop zone.

Perfect life without Allan Kayiwa

Allan Kayiwa was the league’s top scorer last season with 13 goals.

He was a lethal player and carried the team on his shoulders but somehow they have been fairing on well since he departed.

They went on to beat KCCA and now it’s a victory against Bright Stars making it two wins in as many games without Kayiwa.

His absence gives a chance to Ssali and Isaac Waigona to get Express’ goals and give the Red Eagles hope going forward.

Uganda Premier League | Saturday Results

• URA FC 1-0 Wakiso Giants
• Express FC 1-0 Bright Stars

URA FC edged Wakiso Giants in a 1-0 narrow victory in the Uganda Premier League on Saturday at Metha Stadium, Lugazi.

Ivan Ahimbisibwe scored the only goal as the Tax Collectors collected maximum points from the duel.

URA FC nearly took the lead in the 7th minute through Ahimbisibwe after being set up by Norman Namanya but the forward’s effort went narrowly wide.

On the other side, it was Samson Kigozi giving URA FC’s backline trouble before he was fouled by Hudu Mulikyi. However, George Kaddu’s freekick only hit the well-set-up wall before it was cleared away.

URA FC yet again pressed and should have scored in the 23rd minute but Joseph Semujju skied his effort with an empty net in front of him.

Into the second half, the Tax Collectors returned fired up like a blazing house.

The hosts broke the deadlock through Ahimbisibwe with a volley right in the box that was flooded with several bodies. Wakiso Giants will feel undone since they would have cleared the loose ball before it landed on the feet of Ahimbisibwe.

URA had a glorious chance to double the lead through Namanya but Wakiso Giants goalkeeper Bashir Sekagya palmed it away in a tight angle.

It was a moment filled with emotion in the final minute of the game as Viane Sekajugo made a return to the field of play after a nasty injury last season.

Despite a stamped show in the second half by the hosts, they could not add to the earlier goal, and the game ended 1-0.

URA FC are now sixth with eight points while Wakiso Giants are ninth with four points after four games played.

KCCA Football Club head coach Sergio Traguil has called upon his troops to fight and turn the tables around starting with the Kampala Derby against Express.

The past weeks have been tough for any KCCA faithful since they were eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup and also lost two league opening games.

While speaking to the press ahead of the Express Football Club fixture, the Portuguese tactician believes it’s the perfect platform for his charges to turn to a positive page.

“Derbies are always crucial but for us, it’s the perfect time to turn the tables around,” Sergio emotionally said.

“We did not have the perfect start to the season but now it is the time for us to prove our worth and show the world what we’ve been preparing all the time,” he added.

“We have to change everything. We have to create a winning mentality. It’s upon us and we have to carry ourselves from this situation to where we belong because we have all it takes.”

Lack of consistency

It’s now becoming a song in Sergio’s press conferences that the team makes avoidable mistakes that can only be curbed by consistency.

The Portuguese gaffer revealed that his side is made up of mainly young players who ought to get guidance from more senior players.

“We are not far from where we belong. I think we only need to rectify the few mistakes earlier witnessed in the just concluded games. We need to bring more maturity into the team so as to create some balance.”

“No matter what people say, we are on the right path. We are playing very good football, we have to achieve good things using our true identity. We only have to accept where we are so that we take on the responsibility,” he further noted.

In the last five meetings between the two sides, KCCA has won one in the form of a 3-0 victory while the other four meetings have been stalemates.

The Uganda Premier League secretariat has rescheduled the game between KCCA FC and Express FC.

The fixture was meant to be played on Matchday One of the 2023/24 campaign but it was not honoured since KCCA had a game in the CAF Confederation Cup.

However, according to the document released by the UPL secretariat, the game will be played on Sunday, October 8 at the MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo.

“SUPL Match 8 KCCA FC vs Express FC was not played on matchday one due to KCCA FC participation in the CAF Confederation Cup,” partly reads the statement released by the UPL secretariat.

“The said match has been scheduled and will be played on Sunday, October 8, 2023, at 3:00 pm at MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo.”

It will be the third game for the Kasasiro Boys who have so far played against BUL FC and later today play Maroons FC at Lugogo.

Alpha Thiery Ssali looks forward to growing and developing into the footballer of his dreams after joining Uganda Premier League side Express FC.

Ssali was awarded a two-year employment contract that will see him play for the oldest club in the country at least until 2025.

While speaking to the press at the lavish Skyz Hotel, Ssali expressed his love for the sport and urge to develop further.

“This is a development process like many young footballers who yearn for greater deals in life,” Ssali confidently said.

“I am happy to join Express FC. This is a huge club that will help me prove myself as I eye for greater opportunities in life,” he added.

Confidence from the coach

James Odoch, Express’s head coach revealed that he looked for the player and convinced him to join the Wankulukuku-based side.

“I approached Alpha and I had to speak to the father (Bebe Cool) before the deal was finalized. He is a young talented player with the potential to improve,” Odoch told the press.

“We shall not put him under pressure and will see which matches to field him. He will need guidance here and there. I have watched him at Proline and witnessed his growth curve,” the gaffer added.

Express FC is yet to announce the acquisition of Emmanuel Wasswa, Andrew Kawooya, and Seif Batte.

Andrew Kawooya is in the final stages of joining Uganda Premier League side Express FC.

According to Sports Nation, Kawooya has agreed terms with Express FC and is set to sign a two-year employment contract to join the Wankulukuku-based side.

Kawooya switch from Vipers to join arch-rivals KCCA in a dramatic transfer but the attacking midfielder failed to stamp his position at the MTN Omondi Stadium.

He was later loaned out to UPDF to avail the youngster of quality playing time before he was released by the Lugogo-based side.

Kawooya had struggled to live up to the expectations having hit the scene while at St Mary’s Secondary School Kitende as one for the future.

A move to the Wankulukuku-based side will avail Kawooya with yet another rare chance to reignite his career.

To join Express FC, Kawoya will be joining from MYDA FC, a side he joined shortly after being released by KCCA.

Kawooya has previously played for the national junior sides, U17 as well as the U20.

He was part of the glorious U20 side that lost the U20 AFCON Championship final 2-1 to Ghana in Mauritania.

Dissan Galiwango has finally returned to Uganda Premier League Express Football Club.

Galiwango left Express FC in 2020 after a thrilling season and having captained the side for two seasons.

After a controversial move to St Mary’s Kitende, Galiwango will be making an emotional return to Wankulukuku to try and regain his spark.

According to Swift Sports, the roving left back is set to sign a two-year-employment that will see him at the club until 2025.

Galiwango was recently released by Vipers SC after he failed to beat the competition from Isa Mubiru with whom they play the same role.

He only managed to play 406 minutes in the league which is below par for a player of his calibre and stature.

In the three seasons spent at Kitende, he only managed to play 51 games which is a disappointing and pale report by Galiwango.

Tuesday, May 16 | Uganda Premier League | Results

• Vipers SC 5-2 Express FC
• KCCA FC 1-0 BUL FC
• UPDF FC 0-2 SC Villa
• Arua Hill SC 1-4 Busoga United
• Wakiso Giants 2-0 Bright Stars
• Maroons FC 2-0 Onduparaka

Vipers SC picked a big victory against Express FC in the Uganda Premier League on Tuesday evening.

In the game that was played at St Mary’s Stadium Kitende Vipers beat Express 5-2 in a goal galore.

In the 10th minute, Yunus Sentamu found the back of the net following Karim Watambala’s through pass but the flag rose sighting an offside.

Four minutes later, Abdul Lumala was brought down in the area by Isa Lumu and the centre referee pointed to the spot.

Bright Anukani stepped up and hardly made a mistake from a 12-yard spot to give the hosts a lead.

In the 16th minute, Sentamu doubled the lead from a tight angle after being set up by captain Milton Karisa.

Five mutes past half an hour mark, Abdu Lumala was forced off in an early change due to an injury before Najib Yiga replaced the electric man.

In the 40th minute, Joseph Akwadanaho was in the right place to tap home from close range after Fabien Mutombara palmed Allan Kayiwa’s effort in play.

As the first half was looming, Milton Karisa yet again punished Express for their loose defending with a powerful strike past the Red Eagles goalkeeper Abdul Kimera.

Ten minutes into the second half, Marvin Oshaba pulled back another after Vipers’ defence was caught sleeping on the job.

In the 82nd minute, Cromwell Rwothomio made a stunning before he released a powerful low effort into the back of the net.

Three minutes later, Rwothomio extended the lead with a delightful finish hence bagging a personal brace.

The victory took Vipers to 49 points sitting on the summit of the log due to a superior goal difference ahead of KCCA FC and Villa SC with whom they are level at points.

In the next league game, Vipers will be on the road to play BUL FC at FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru on Tuesday, May 23.