2008 FINAL STANDINGS

SC Villa
Hoping to build on last season’s steady progress with further solid and consistent performances new coach Sula Kato has signed up a few players in order to bolster his squad. Kato replaced Asuman Lubowa in the off-season.

Finished last season in second place, five points adrift of KCC, and ever hopeful of improving on that performance this time around.
However, with the losses of key striker Oscar Kadenge, Yasin Mugabi, Joseph Owino, Jeremiah Ssebuyira and Henry Kisekka this task could prove to be a little an uphill struggle. In the transfer market, the Jogoos lost out to Bunamwaya to the signature of Cranes striker Caeser Okhuti despite the fans’ endless ventures of sourcing for funds to lure the former Ediofe man to Villa Park.

The club has been a spectator in the transfer exercise as their rivals have made the necessary changes in playing staff. The only significant addition is defender Ali Arishe from relegated Biharwe. Villa nowadays relies so much on the youth system prevalent at Villa Park and many of the current crop emerged from Villa Young.

Last season’s best player, Steven Bengo will again be called forward to shoulder the responsibility of making the club win some silverware this term as will defender Tony Ndolo. The mere reunion of Sula Kato, a former Villa player, with Paul Nkata and Ibrahim Kirya is likely to create cohesion in terms of transmitting playing tactics since the trio know each other so well.

But another season without a trophy will be unacceptable by the Blues fans, so Nkata has a huge task at hand. While at Victors FC last season, he managed to lead the side to their first major title when they won the Kakungulu Cup.

KCC FC
Kampala City Council will accept nothing but another title this season after splashing out on a major signing spree bringing the likes of midfielder Jeremiah Ssebuyira (from SC Villa), Rwanda U-23 skipper Omar Hitimana (from Express), Godfrey Kavulu (from Express), goalkeeper Francis Origa (from Boroboro) and Ediofe’s striker Lewin Piyik to the club.

These will add to the already rich playing staff that has Brian Omwony who scored 15 league goals last term, Owen Kasule whose future is still kind of uncertain at the club due to a dispute between Bunamwaya and KCC, unsung Ronald Kamoga, the diminutive Robert Ssentongo, Anthony Bongoole and Moses Muhindo.

Losing the now off-colour Jamil Kyambadde, and former skipper Nathan Mutenza have rather than weakened the side but made it a much better unit, one that will be able to challenge for next season’s MTN/CAF Champions League trophy and Cecafa Club championships that will be held here in Kampala. In total, the Kasasiro’s acquired 12 and 10 hit the exit door.

Last season, riding on the wisdom of George ‘Best’ Nsimbe, KCC managed to win 12 of their last 13 games in the second round of the league enroute to winning the title for the first time since 1997 when Tom Lwanga was coach.

Before Nsimbe took charge, results had been hard to come by under Moses Basena now at Uganda Revenue Authority. The pressure is on Coach Nsimbe to secure some silverware this season.

Express FC
Express FC have always been considered as one of the strongest teams in the league but are now a fading force. Over the last couple of seasons they haven’t exhibited any league title winning credentials and achieving a top class finish this time round looks another tall order.

Express FC fondly known as ‘mukwano gwabangi’ have been in free fall thanks to administrative wrangles at Wankulukuku. At the moment, Express is like a ship without a captain and if it has a captain, then he is surely lacking a compass.

Last season veteran coach Polly Ouma lasted just one month, only to be replaced by Jimmy Muguwa who guided the five-time champions to seventh position..

To underline the club’s lack of ambition, for the season that starts this weekend, the club has taken a “don’t fix it” attitude over the transfer market, failing to sign any major players to strengthen their squad.
The club has only succeeded in signing Mutaasa (Biharwe), M. Sserunkuma (Kawempe) and P.Jingo ‘Ndiefi’ from also Kawempe.

Information from Wankuluku reveals that the Red Eagles are going to have a youthful squad this term. Out went key players like Abdul Kasalita to Bunamwaya, goalkeeper Abbey Dhaira to URA, Omar Hitimana and Godfrey Kavulu to KCC. New Coach David Otti’s brief is to rebuild a new team, one that will be able to challenge for the title in about two years.

URA FC
Uganda Revenue Authority are a sure bet to be one of the close challengers for the title once again and will push all the way to the end if the tax collectors’ recent exploits in the Cecafa Club Championships that ended yesterday is anything to go by. The club conceded the least number of goals and was also good going forward.

Under the tutelage of Moses Basena who took over the reins in January, a strong and committed unit has been forged compared to what existed when Frank ‘Video’ Anyau was pulling the strings.

New club skipper Johnson Bagoole is in the form of his life and there is no doubt that Basena is praying that he rubs that form into this coming season.

There has been a massive clear-out to cut the team’s average age. Sam Nadduli was offloaded to Kinyara, Joram Katende to Police, Richard Malinga to Nalubaale, Joseph Babigumira, Frank Mulondo, Musa Mohammed, Ronald Ssesanga and ex-skipper David Kazibwe.

URA signed perhaps the most promising player in the country when they snapped up Abel Dhaira Express.Joseph Owino and Henry Kisekka have also joined the taxe collectors who are now a good bet to challenge for top honours.

Police FC
When they won the title in 2005, it appeared they had arrived in the big time, especially since they followed this with a Cecafa Club Championship title in 2006. Sam Timbe’s cops topped the league table for most of last season only to slip up at the start of the second round and eventually settling for the third place.

A thin playing staff following the departures of Simeon Masaba to Villa, Tonny Mawejje and Ismail Kigozi (both to URA) during the mid season transfer window weakened the side and allowed Villa and KCC to challenge for the title.
Prodigal son Joram Katende has returned from URA but it is hard to see the cops sustaining a realistic challenge for the title.