The first round of the 2015/16 season in Uganda Premier League ended on December 29 with only 6 points separating table leaders KCCA from 6th placed Express FC.
January is here and teams have already taken the initiative to strengthen their respective squads.
Like any other title contending team, KCCA have wasted no time to add manpower into their squad although still lacking.
The Kasasiro boys have so far acquired the services of Samson Ceaser Okhuti from Express who will without a doubt add quality to the squad but can KCCA maintain their status quo?
Currently seated top of the table with 29 points from 15 games, the 10 time league champions are yet to produce a scintillating performance. The season for the Lugogo based club started convincingly with that 3-0 win over lowly club Sadolin and that was it from them.
They’ve since struggled to create goal scoring opportunities let alone convert the few created even with Muzamir Mutyaba one of the best creative midfielders in the league.
It may sound a bit unforgiving, but Mike Mutebi and Sam Simbwa – the men in charge have failed to squeeze the best out of their strikers. The fact that Mutyaba a midfielder tops the goal scoring charts in the team with 4 goals says a lot about the available strikers.
Its further mind blowing knowing that a team of KCCA’s style and tradition coached by some of the greatest attack- minded tacticians in the league find difficulties creating chances.
What worries most is that the team has gotten so accustomed and comfortable winning games by a goal to nil and seems more relaxed and less bothered about it. They’ve so far recorded five 1-0 wins, the most in the league.
KCCA faithfuls however, will hope the acquisition of Okhuti will bring quality, experience and competition to the team and perhaps his addition will act as a wake-up call to other forwards. The striker joins the club as joint second top scorer in the league currently with 8 goals.
His experience will be of great value to KCCA who last won the league in the 2013/14 season. A champion with Bunamwaya FC (now Vipers SC) back in 2009/10 season comes a winner with him.
This means he definitely knows what is required of a player and what it takes for a team to become champions. Blessed with pace, skill, power, positional awareness and agility, Okhuti will no doubt strike a good combination with Mutyaba whose creative ability is currently second to none in the domestic league. The midfielder will without a doubt help better the forward’s stats and game in general and the reverse is true.
Albeit not producing convincing performances, the side has something to cheer about and that’s their defense. They boast of some of the best defenders in the league especially their fullbacks in Denis Okot and Joseph Ochaya. The latter due to his versatility gives the team more options both in midfield and at the back.
Okot’s recent appointment as club captain shows you how important he is to the team and what a leader he is. It was Okot’s cross that met a rushing Okhuti who headed in the only goal of the 2015 CECAFA final to ensure Uganda wins its record 14th title in the recently concluded showpiece in Ethiopia.
If they can forge such a connection at KCCA given the fact that Okot’s mastered art of crossing is secret no more, good things await KCCA in the nearby future. With Ivan Ntege and the Nigerian Sulaimon Akinyemi protecting the back, one may argue out that with Okhuti now at their ranks, KCCA may have gotten their missing puzzle but are they really up to the task?
Thing is, KCCA have looked better a side of the title contending teams simply because the teams supposed to give them a run for their money have themselves been poor and lack consistency.
Vipers look jaded and therefore haven’t really exhibited their A game, the kind that saw them lift last season’s trophy after losing only one game. The defending champions have so far been subjected to three league losses.
Police of the title contenders to me looks the most likely the win the title they last won a decade ago which actually counts as their only title. The kavumba side looks more solid and balanced but is yet to record three straight wins this season. They’ve lost just once but can they desist from the numerous draws?
Villa’s early season madness of appointing Antonio Flores a man who hardly has experience in management did more harm than good to them. However, the re-appointment of Ibrahim Kirya a former player as coach restored some sanity in the team. The Jogoos are yet to lose a game under his mantle but will require utmost consistency and confidence to finally reclaim the title that has eluded them for close to 12 years.
URA pride themselves with the league’s top scorer Robert Sentongo who has been in brilliant form scoring 9 goals. However, their leaky defense is an aspect that has worried many including the coaching staff and fans. The fans will hope the arrival of Savio Kabugo will help address this problem. It’s now up to Kefa Kisala and his coaching staff to find the best partnership.
The loss of Okhuti puts Express in a very tricky position. How they will cope up with this remains to be seen.
