FUFA Big League Playoffs:
Thursday, 16th May 2019 (At Star Times Stadium, Lugogo)
- Match No. 221: Kyetume Vs Dove (1 PM)
- Match No. 222: Kansai Plascon Vs UPDF (4 PM)
3rd Place & Final (Saturday, 18th May 2019)
Third Place:
- Match No. 223: Winner Match no. 221 (Kyetume or Dove) Vs Winner Match no. 222 (Kansai Plascon or UPDF) – 2 PM
Final:
- Match No. 224: Wakiso Giants Vs Proline – 4 PM
The eagerly awaited FUFA Big league playoffs will kick off this Thursday, 16th May 2019 at the StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo.
Four clubs (Kyetume, Dove, Kansai Plascon and UPDF) will vie for the remaining slot to join the Uganda Premier League for the season kicking off 2019/2020.
Kyetume, who finished runners up in the Elgon group, takes on surprise packs, Dove in the first of the doubleheader on Thursday at 1 PM.
The second game will kick-off at 4 PM between the Rwenzori group first runners up Kansai Plascon and former Uganda Premier League club Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF).
Led by Jackson ‘Mia-Mia’ Mayanja and youthful coach Allan Kabonge, Kyetume will battle the tried and tested Mark Twinamatisko who inspired a debutant side Dove from Masindi.
Like Mayanja and Kabonge, Twinamatisko has also previously guided a team from the lower division to the top flight.
Mayanja’s heroics back in the days with Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) are well documented since leading Lyantonde – URA from the supermini league then to the super division.
Kabonge himself deservedly earned the tag of the promotional king for guiding Aurum Roses, Onduparaka, Masavu and lately Paidha Black Angels Football Clubs from the second division to the Uganda Premier League.
This is my zone of operation in the playoffs. We have prepared well and hope for the best come Thursday and Friday as we play in the play offs
Allan Kabonge Kivewala, Co-Coach Kyetume FC
Twinamatisko is best remembered for inspiring The Saints FC (now defunct) to the Uganda Premier League before he later shifted base to Kirinya-Jinja S.S.
Kyetume and Dove will be a game of varying proportions given the quality of players at disposal for these two clubs.
Former Uganda Cranes players Vincent Kayizzi Walugembe, Owen Kasule, Patrick Ochan and Robert Ochan lead the cast of experienced players with Kyetume.
Dove has the tried and tested legs of Bright Haguma, Robert Kyamanywa and Johnson Tusubira for the much-desired inspiration.
The second semi-final in the play-off between Kansai Plascon and UPDF will also be a close duel to predict.
First from the technical perspective; these two clubs have vastly experienced coaches.
Veteran Angelo Lonyesi and Peter Ssengonzi are at the helm of Kansai Plascon as Steven Bogere sits in the dug-out at UPDF.
Bogere is a known preacher of sexy attractive football and his sides are fondly known to maintain possession from start to finish as they seek for a breakthrough to the opposition goal area.
Lonyesi is a great tactical coach who has over time excelled at organizing his team after critical study and thesis of the opponent.
Kansai Plascon’s main hopes will be vested in Allan Oryek, Robert Ssentongo Junior, the burly left-footed forward Henry Kitegenyi, Brian Oyuka, Mustapha Mugoya among others.
Amis Muwonge, Sydney Ssenyonga, right winger Fred Umony and Robert Ssaka are some of the star players on the UPDF team.
The main championship finale to determine the king of the FUFA Big League for the season 2018/19 will be played on Saturday, 18th May 2019 between Proline and Wakiso Giants.
For starters, Wakiso Giants were confirmed as the first club to be promoted to the Uganda Premier League having championed the Elgon group.
Proline as well was confirmed on the final day as the leader of the Rwenzori group following a hard-fought 2-0 victory on the road against Kabale Sharp at the Kabale Municipal Stadium.
Joseph Mandela and Bright Anukani scored the two goals for Proline, who returned to top flight following their relegation a season ago.
Here, two former SC Villa coaches Ibrahim Kirya (at Wakiso Giants) and Shafiq Bisaso (Proline) will square off.
Both clubs (Proline and Wakiso Giants) have got quality players, the bold reason for their outstanding performances throughout the season.
Proline’s goalkeeper Hassan Matovu, top scorer Ivan Bogere, Joseph Mandela, Captain Noordin Bunjo, defenders Ibrahim Ssendi, Mustafa Mujjuzi, Ibrahim Bonyo and the exciting midfielder Bright Anukani have been key for the Mujib Kasule’s owned club.
It goes without a saying, Wakiso Giants tried and tested players as Hassan Wasswa Dazo, Steven Bengo, skipper Ali Moses Feni, Karim Ndugwa, Norman Ojik as well as goalkeepers Yasin Mugabi, Mansoor Mutumba and Cleo Ssetubba and others all worked their hearts out to ensure that the club is promoted.
The FUFA Big League was started in the year 2013 as a feeder to the main division.
Whereas three clubs are promoted from the FUFA Big League to the Uganda Premier League, eight are demoted to the respective regional leagues.
This season, the relegated clubs were; Nebbi Central (11 points), Entebbe (16), Amuka Bright Stars (21) and Jinja Municipal Council (JMC) Hippos (21) in the Elgon group.
Amuka Bright Stars and JMC Hippos were confirmed ‘dead’ on the final day of regular season.
Bumate United (1 point), Ntinda United (11 points), Kira United (12 points) and Kireka United (21 points) were relegated from the Rwenzori group.
