Bright Stars Special: Nearly got lost in transition

One of the hardest things to manage is change yet is inevitable. For football clubs, a transition always comes with negative consequences where some if not many fail to recover.  Transition is defined as “the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.” It is often used to describe a lull in the performances of clubs as they get used to a new man in charge.

Bright Stars FC got promoted to the top tier league in 2013 and played their debut season under coach-player Livingstone Mbabazi. However, he was sacked at the start of the following season with Fred Kajjoba replacing him on 4^th November 2014. Since then up-to the end of last season, Bright Stars FC was under his guidance, an unluckily thing in the league nowadays where coaches are sacked.

Whereas many football clubs, managers seem to come and go regularly, the crutch of a transitional period is simply not allowed and not felt because the principle is you either succeed and keep your job or fail and leave. But for Bright Stars FC, they stuck with Kajjoba for that long and somehow managed to keep the team afloat amidst struggles. Last season, they even reached the Uganda Cup final but lost to Proline FC.

Bright Stars FC has not realized any success in the league since 2013 but changing from Kajjoba to any other coach was always going to come with challenges. Muhammad Kisekka who succeeded him definitely struggled with the club until when he was sacked and Paul Kiwanuka who worked as assistant to Kajjoba came back to put them back on the rails.

Besides, the departure of Nelson Ssenkatuka, arguably the club’s best striker ever left a void. He scored 34 goals in the 60 games he played for Bright Stars FC. Therefore, the club has not gotten a reliable player like it was the case with Ssenkatuka. This partly explains why they have managed just 24 goals in the 25 games played so far.

When Kiwanuka returned, there was honest improvement. For a team that managed just one win in the first round, they have six victories from the ten games played in the second round

Breakdown of Bright Stars FC League games this season

Match 1: Bright Stars FC 1-3 Vipers SC

Goal scored by Enock Walusimbi

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Nicholas Ssebwato
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekito
• Farouk Katongole
• Enock Walusimbi
• Augustine Kacancu
• Davies Sekagya
• Methodius Jjungu
• Alfred Onek
• James Angu
• Jamil Kalisa

Match 2: Express FC 1-1 Bright Stars FC

Goal scored by Joseph Janjali

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Nicholas Ssebwato
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekito
• Norman Odipio
• Derrick Ngoobi
• Enock Walusimbi
• Augustine Kacancu
• Davies Sekagya
• Methodius Jjungu
• Joseph Janjali
• Jamil Kalisa

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

Goal scored by Isaac Isinde (Own goal)

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Nicholas Ssebwato
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekito
• Norman Odipio
• Derrick Ngoobi
• Enock Walusimbi
• Augustine Kacancu
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Methodius Jjungu
• Joseph Janjali
• Davies Sekagya
• Jamil Kalisa

Match 4: Bright Stars FC 1-1 Wakiso Gaints FC

Goal scored by Ronald Nkonge

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Simon Tamale
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekito
• Farouk Katongole
• Derrick Ngoobi
• Augustine Kacancu
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Methodius Jjungu
• Brian Kayanja
• Joseph Janjali
• Jamil Kalisa

Match 5: Maroons FC 3-2 Bright Stars FC

Goals scored by Augustine Kacancu and Suleiman Ssebunza

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Simon Tamale
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekito
• Farouk Katongole
• Derrick Ngoobi
• Augustine Kacancu
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Methodius Jjungu
• Brian Kayanja
• Joseph Janjali
• Jamil Kalisa

Match 6: Bright Stars FC 0-0 URA FC

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Simon Tamale
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekito
• Farouk Katongole
• Derrick Ngoobi
• Enock Walusimbi
• Henry Kiwanuka
• Methodius Jjungu
• Ronald Ssempala
• Joseph Janjali
• Ronald Nkonge

Match 7: KCCA FC 1-1 Bright Stars FC

Goal scored by Joseph Janjali

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Ronald Nkonge
• Farouk Katongole
• Derrick Ngoobi
• Enock Walusimbi
• Henry Kiwanuka
• Hamis Gabite
• Ronald Ssempala
• Joseph Janjali
• Alfred Onek

Match 8: Bright Stars FC 0-0 Tooro United FC

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Ronald Nkonge
• Farouk Katongole
• Derrick Ngoobi
• Enock Walusimbi
• Henry Kiwanuka
• Hamis Gabite
• Ronald Ssempala
• Joseph Janjali
• Alfred Onek

Match 9: Bright Stars FC 0-1 Kyetume FC

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Ronald Nkonge
• Farouk Katongole
• Derrick Ngoobi
• Enock Walusimbi
• Brian Kayanja
• Hamis Gabite
• Ronald Ssempala
• Methodius Jjungu
• Jamil Kalisa

Match 10: BUL FC 1-1 Bright Stars FC

Goal scored by Joseph Janjali

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekito
• Derrick Ngoobi
• Enock Walusimbi
• Davies Ssekagya
• Hamis Gabite
• James Angu
• Joseph Janjali
• Alfred Onek
• Ronald Nkonge

Match 11: Bright Stars FC 1-0 Onduparaka FC

Goal scored by Muhammad Kyeyune

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekito
• Derrick Ngoobi
• Enock Walusimbi
• Henry Kiwanuka
• Hamis Gabite
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Ronald Nkonge
• Joseph Janjali
• Alfred Onek

Match 12: Mbarara City FC 0-0 Bright Stars FC

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekito
• Derrick Ngoobi
• Enock Walusimbi
• Henry Kiwanuka
• Hamis Gabite
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Ronald Nkonge
• Joseph Janjali
• Alfred Onek

Match 13: Bright Stars FC 0-1 SC Villa

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekito
• Derrick Ngoobi
• Enock Walusimbi
• Juma Ssebudaka
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Hamis Gabite
• Joseph Janjali
• Moses Okot
• Ronald Okot

Match 14: Proline FC 2-1 Bright Stars FC

Goal scored by Augustine Kacancu

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Ronald Nkonge
• Derrick Ngoobi
• Enock Walusimbi
• Augustine Kacancu
• Henry Kiwanuka
• Methodius Jjungu
• Brian Kayanja
• Joseph Janjali
• Alfred Onek

Match 15: Bright Stars FC 0-1 Police FC

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekito
• Ronald Nkonge
• Enock Walusimbi
• Augustine Kacancu
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Davies Ssekagya
• James Angu
• Joseph Janjali
• Ronald Ssempala

Match 16: Bright Stars FC 1-0 BUL FC

Goal scored by Alfred Onek

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Aggrey Kirya
• Sam Ssekitto
• Ronald Nkonge
• Enock Walusimbi
• Andrew Kyambadde
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Juma Ssebaduka
• James Angu
• Joseph Janjali
• Jamil Kalisa

Match 17: Bright Stars FC 2-1 KCCA FC

Goals scored by Joseph Janjali and Ronald Ssempala

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekitto
• Enock Walusimbi
• Andrew Kyambadde
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Juma Ssebaduka
• James Angu
• Brian Kayanja
• Joseph Janjali
• Jamil Kalisa

Match 18: URA FC 1-0 Bright Stars FC

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekitto
• Enock Walusimbi
• Andrew Kyambadde
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Juma Ssebaduka
• James Angu
• Brian Kayanja
• Joseph Janjali
• Jamil Kalisa

Match 19: Bright Stars FC 2-1 Maroons FC

Goals scored by Ronald Nkonge and Suleiman Ssebunza

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekitto
• Ronald Nkongerj
• Enock Walusimbi
• Andrew Kyambadde
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Juma Ssebaduka
• Ronald Ssempala
• Joseph Janjali
• Jamil Kalisa

Match 20: Wakiso Giants FC 1-1 Bright Stars FC

Goal scored by James Angu

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekitto
• Enock Walusimbi
• Andrew Kyambadde
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Juma Ssebaduka
• Ronald Ssempala
• James Angu
• Joseph Janjali
• Jamil Kalisa

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

Goals scored by Ronald Ssempala, Jamil Kalisa and Joseph Janjali

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekitto
• Enock Walusimbi
• Andrew Kyambadde
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Muwadda Mawejje
• Juma Ssebaduka
• Ronald Ssempala
• Joseph Janjali
• Jamil Kalisa

Match 22: Police FC 1-2 Bright Stars FC

Goals scored by Sula Ssebunza and Muwadda Mawejje

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Sam Ssekitto
• Bernard Muwanga
• Enock Walusimbi
• Andrew Kyambadde
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Muwadda Mawejje
• Joseph Janjali
• Ronlad Ssempala
• Jamil Kalisa
• Ronald Nkonge

Match 23: Bright Stars FC 1-0 Proline FC

Goal scored by Joseph Janjali

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kyambadde
• Ronald Nkonge
• Enock Walusimbi
• Derrick Ngoobi
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Muhammed Kyeyune
• Muwadda Mawejje
• James Angu
• Joseph Janjali
• Jamil Kalisa

Match 24: SC Villa 2-1 Bright Stars FC

Goal scored by Jamil Kalisa

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kaggwa
• Sam Ssekitto
• Ronald Nkonge
• Enock Walusimbi
• Bernard Muwanga
• Andrew Kyambadde
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Alfred Onek
• Muwadda Mawejje
• Joseph Janjali

Match 25: Bright Stars FC 1-3 Mbarara City FC

Goal scored by Bernard Muwanga

Bright Stars FC Starting XI

• Edwin Kiwanuka
• Andrew Kyambadde
• Sam Ssekitto
• Bernard Muwanga
• Enock Walusimbi
• Juma Ssebaduka
• Suleiman Ssebunza
• Muwadda mawejje
• Joseph Janjali
• Jamil Kalisa
• Ronald Nkonge