Busoga United Special: Kikomeko deserves credit for a good job

Busoga United FC has had quite a good run in the league this season. Occupying 4^th position on the Uganda Premier League table with 42 points in 25 games, the Jinja based outfit has been one of the best performing teams this season.

Since gaining promotion in 2016, the best point tally for Busoga United FC came in the 2017/18 season where they finished in 5^th position on 43 points. This therefore means that with 5 games to the climax of this season, they are just a point short of their best season.

• 2016/17 Season – 33 points
• 2017/18 Season – 43 points
• 2018/19 Season – 41 points
• 2019/20 Season – 42 points (On-going)

Credit should be given to coach Abbey Bogere Kikomeko alias Capello who has been at the club for a long time. He actually guided them to promotion back in 2016 before he was replaced by Alex Isabirye and later Charles Ayieko but bounced back when the latter threw in the towel.

Busoga United FC is not one of those teams with a big squad or the supposedly talented players but Kikomeko has managed to grind out results from the available playing unit.

When the club lost arguably their best striker Joel Madondo to Wydad Casablanca and midfielder Boban Zirintusa who moved to Zambia at the start of the year, many thought they would struggle. In the same breath, defender Isaac Isinde too left but surprisingly, Kikomeko has been able to keep his team together.

In the absence of Madondo, teenage striker Lawrence Tezikya has been able to fill the void, scoring five goals so far. At the heart of defence, Kenneth Ssemakula who just got promoted to the senior team came in as a direct replacement for Isinde. It should be noted that both Tezikya and Ssemakula are products of the school side (Jinja SS) which is also managed by Kikomeko.

And the rest of the squad is littered with a number of players that has been promoted from the team’s Junior side. These include; Jerome Kirya, Isma Mugulusi, Vincent Zziwa and Ivan Wani among others.

Busoga United FC were very active in the transfer market at the start of the season and some of the new signings made have played a key role. Zirintusa added his experience to the midfield and by the time he left for Green Buffaloes, he was the club’s top scorer with 7 goals.  Shafik Nana Kakeeto, signed from Express FC added steel to the backline while Wani who returned from Maroons FC offered options on the flanks.

Rogers Omedwa who arrived at the Mighty Arena as a little known shot-stopper from Agape SS has equally performed well in his debut season.

Busoga United FC Signings at the start of the season

Benson Wagima (Bright Stars FC), Rogers Omedwa(Agape SS), Ashraf Batwawula(Butembe FC), Musa Magumba (Jinja SS), Paul Ssekulima(Uganda Martryrs University), Ali Kimera(Mbarara City FC), Ivan Wani(Maroons FC), Shafik Kakeeto(Express FC), Sula Wambede(Heegan FC), Franco Magero Balaba(Mount Kenya), Joseph Ssemwogerere(free agent), Hakim Magombe(BUL FC), Lawrence Tezikya(Busoga United FC, Ibrahim Mugulusi(SC Villa) and Boban Zirintusa

Breakdown of Busoga United’s games

Match 1: Tooro United FC 2-1 Busoga United FC

Goal scored by Dan Ssewava

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Benson Wagima
• Douglas Muganga
• Ismail Kawawulo
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Isaac Isinde
• George Kasonko
• Jerome Kirya
• Nelson Mandela
• Joel Madondo
• Dan Ssewava
• Ivan Wani

Match 2: Busoga United FC 0-1 KCCA FC

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Ali Kimera
• Douglas Muganga
• Ismail Kawawulo
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Isaac Isinde
• George Kasonko
• Jerome Kirya
• Nelson Mandela
• Joel Madondo
• Dan Ssewava
• Ivan Wani

Match 3: Busoga United FC 3-1 Bright Stars FC

Goals scored by Dan Ssewava, Joel Madondo and Ibrahim Mugulusi

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Ali Kimera
• Douglas Muganga
• Ismail Kawawulo
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Isaac Isinde
• Boban Zirintusa
• Jerome Kirya
• Nelson Mandela
• Joel Madondo
• Paul Ssekulima
• Ivan Wani

Match 4: BUL FC 0-3 Busoga United FC

Goals scored by Joel Madondo, Lawrence Tezikya and Boban Zirintusa

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Ali Kimera
• Douglas Muganga
• Ismail Kawawulo
• Isaac Isinde
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• George Kasonko
• Nelson Mandela
• Boban Zirintusa
• Joel Madondo
• Musa Magumba
• Ivan Wani

Match 5: Busoga United FC 0-1 Onduparaka FC

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Ali Kimera
• Douglas Muganga
• Ismail Kawawulo
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Isaac Isinde
• George Kasonko
• Boban Zirintusa
• Nelson Mandela
• Joel Madondo
• Dan Ssewava
• Ivan Wani

Match 6: Mbarara City FC 2-1 Busoga United FC

Goal scored by Ibrahim Mugulusi

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Rogers Omedwa
• Douglas Muganga
• Abubaker Otwao
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Ismail Kawawulo
• George Kasonko
• Boban Zirintusa
• Anthony Mayanja
• Joel Madondo
• Jerome Kirya
• Ivan Wani

Match 7: Busoga United 1-1 SC Villa

Goal scored by Boban Zirintusa

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Rogers Omedwa
• Douglas Muganga
• Abubaker Otwao
• Umar Mukobe
• Ismail Kawawulo
• George Kasonko
• Boban Zirintusa
• Franco Balaba
• Joel Madondo
• Ibrahim Mugulusi
• Ivan Wani

Match 8: Proline FC 0-1 Busoga United FC

Goal scored by Ismail Kawawulo

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Rogers Omedwa
• Douglas Muganga
• Abubaker Otwao
• Umar Mukobe
• Ismail Kawawulo
• George Kasonko
• Boban Zirintusa
• Franco Balaba
• Joel Madondo
• Dan Ssewava
• Ivan Wani

Match 9: Busoga United FC 2-1 Police FC

Goals scored by Boban Zirintusa and Julius Debbo

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Rogers Omedwa
• Douglas Muganga
• Abubaker Otwao
• Umar Mukobe
• Ismail Kawawulo
• George Kasonko
• Boban Zirintusa
• Franco Balaba
• Joel Madondo
• Jerome Kirya
• Ivan Wani

Match 10: Express FC 1-2 Busoga United FC

Goals scored by Joel Madondo and Boban Zirintusa

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Rogers Omedwa
• Douglas Muganga
• Abubaker Otwao
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Joseph Ssemwogerere
• George Kasonko
• Boban Zirintusa
• Anthony Mayanja
• Joel Madondo
• David Bagoole
• Julius Debbo

Match 11: Busoga United FC 0-1 Vipers SC

Busoga United Starting XI

• Rogers Omedwa
• Douglas Muganga
• Abubaker Otwao
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Joseph Ssemwogerere
• George Kasonko
• Boban Zirintusa
• Joel Madondo
• Paul Ssekulima
• David Bagoole
• Julius Debbo

Match 12: Kyetume FC 2-1 Busoga United FC

Goal scored by Dan Ssewava

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Rogers Omedwa
• Douglas Muganga
• Abubaker Otwao
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Joseph Ssemwogerere
• George Kasonko
• Jerome Kirya
• Anthony Mayanja
• Joel Madondo
• David Bagoole
• Ismail Kawawulo

Match 13: Wakiso Giants FC 2-1 Busoga United FC

Goal scored by Abubaker Otwao

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Ali Kimera
• Douglas Muganga
• Abubaker Otwao
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Ismail Kawawulo
• George Kasonko
• Boban Zirintusa
• Anthony Mayanja
• Franco Balaba
• David Bagoole
• Paul Ssekulima

Match 14: Busoga United FC 1-1 Maroons FC

Goal scored by Boban Zirintusa

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Rogers Omedwa
• Douglas Muganga
• Abubaker Otwao
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Ismail Kawawulo
• George Kasonko
• Boban Zirintusa
• Ibrahim Mugulusi
• Musa Magumba
• Paul Ssekulima
• Franco Onen

Match 15: URA FC 0-0 Busoga United FC

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Benson Wagima
• Douglas Muganga
• Umar Mukobe
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Joseph Ssemwogerere
• George Kasonko
• Paul Ssekulima
• Musa Magumba
• Davis Ssewava
• Franco Onen
• Julius Debbo

Match 16: Busoga United FC 2-0 Express FC

Goals scored by Ivan Wani and Boban Zirintusa

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Rogers Omedwa
• Isaac Isinde
• Abubaker Otwao
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Franco Balaba
• George Kasonko
• Boban Zirintusa
• Ivan Wani
• Paul Ssekulima
• David Bagoole
• Julius Debbo

Match 17: SC Villa 0-1 Busoga United FC

Goals scored by Moses Kiggundu (own goal)

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Rogers Omedwa
• Douglas Muganga
• Abubaker Otwao
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Kenneth Ssemakula
• George Kasonko
• Nelson Mandela
• Jerome Kirya
• Lawrence Tezikya
• David Bagoole
• Julius Debbo

Match 18: Busoga United FC 1-0 Mbarara City FC

Goal scored by Lawrence Tezikya

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Rogers Omedwa
• Douglas Muganga
• Abubaker Otwao
• Nelson Mandela
• Kenneth Ssemakula
• George Kasonko
• Isma Mugulusi
• Ivan Wani
• Lawrence Tezikya
• David Bagoole
• Julius Debbo

Match 19: Onduparaka FC 2-1 Busoga United FC

Goal scored by Nelson Mandela

Busoga United Starting XI

• Rogers Omedwa
• Douglas Muganga
• Abubaker Otwao
• Nelson Mandela
• Franco Balaba
• George Kasonko
• Jerome Kirya
• Ivan Wani
• Lawrence Tezikya
• David Bagoole
• Julius Debbo

Match 20: Busoga United FC 2-1 BUL FC

Goals scored by David Bagoole and Lawrence Tezikya

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Rogers Omedwa
• Douglas Muganga
• Abubaker Otwao
• Nelson Mandela
• Kenneth Ssemakula
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Dan Ssewava
• Ivan Wani
• Lawrence Tezikya
• David Bagoole
• Julius Debbo

Match 21: Bright Stars FC 3-0 Busoga United FC

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Rogers Omedwa
• Douglas Muganga
• Ismael Kawawulo
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Kenneth Ssemakula
• Nelson Mandela
• Ivan Wani
• Lawrence Tezikya
• David Bagoole
• Paul Ssekulima
• Sharif Kimbowa

Match 22: Busoga United FC 3-0 URA FC

Goals scored by Lawrence Tezikya, David Bagoole and Nelson Mandela

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Ali Kimera
• Julius Debbo
• Nelson Mandela
• Douglas Muganga
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• George Kasonko
• Jerome Kirya
• Franco Balaba
• Sharif Kimbowa
• David Bagoole
• Ivan Wani

Match 23: Maroons FC 0-1 Busoga United FC

Goal scored by Paul Ssekulima

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Ali Kimera
• Julius Debbo
• Nelson Mandela
• Kenneth Ssemakula
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• George Kasonko
• Jerome Kirya
• Musa Magumba
• Sharif Kimbowa
• David Bagoole
• Ivan Wani

Match 24: Busoga United FC 1-0 Wakiso Giants FC

Goal scored by Sharif Kimbowa

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Ali Kimera
• Abubaker Otwao
• Hakim Magombe
• Kenneth Sssemakula
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• George Kasonko
• Nelson Mandela
• Franco Onen
• Sharif Kimbowa
• David Bagoole
• Lawrence Tezikya

Match 25: Busoga United FC 1-0 Kyetume FC

Goal scored by Larence Tezikya

Busoga United FC Starting XI

• Ali Kimera
• Douglas Muganga
• Ismail Kawawulo
• Kenneth Ssemakula
• Shafik Nana Kakeeto
• Nelson Mandela
• Vincent Zziwa
• Lawrence Tezikya
• Sharif Kimbowa
• David Bagoole
• Ivan Wani