The pre-season time is that epoch of evaluation and projection. It remains one of the most needed periods in planning for a new football season.
Management of Wakiso Giants Football Club has optimally utilized this period to reflect on their debut season in Uganda’s topflight league.
The Purple Sharks have used this time to brainstorm about the previous term, the gains as well as losses to bridge into the 2020-21 footballing season.
First things first, ranking a loft the posed questions for the Wakiso Giants’ board were concerns of how different coaches were employed in the previous season, luckily the club survived the murky relegation waters.
After Ibrahim Kirya handed over the baton from the FUFA Big League (second division), then took over former Uganda Cranes left-winger Kefa Kisala.
Kisala handled over to another former Cranes player, Charles Livingstone Mbabazi.
Mbabazi mutually agreed to part ways with the club (two wins in 7 games, three losses and two draws) and in came Deo Sserwadda to complete the season.
In between the Kisala, Mbabazi and Sserwadda take over, one man Steven Bengo remained a constant and often was deployed to assist on an interim basis.
Now as the new season knocks on the doors, the technical department was given priority.
First, lengthy discussions were held with former Uganda Cranes captain David Obua but unfortunately failed to materialize after the two parties weighed the offers and options.
Then, the management agreed on Douglas Bamweyana and Richard Wasswa.
For starters, the two tacticians share a lot in their DNA – possessive, attractive and purposeful football.
Both coaches are not only smart and organized on the field of play, but also a tried and tested entity.
Whereas Wasswa has enjoyed a good time with Vipers Sports Club, Bamweyana has previously worked at Express, Sports Club Villa and recently Maroons, of course had earlier coached the Makerere University football team in the famous University Football League (UFL).
With the abrupt end of the 2019-20 UPL season (because of the Coronavirus pandemic), Wakiso Giants Football Club ended with 30 points in the 10th position, a feat they will possibly wish to improve.
The mountain task heading to the 2020-21 season, Bamweyana and Wasswa are embarked with a mission possible to better the club’s position of last season, carry aloft the club’s legacy and uphold the objectives of their founding, among others.
Between now and the club’s pre-season training sessions, more planning meetings will be held, ideas shared, key decisions will be executed and further confirmations shall be undertaken.
Definitely, the Purple Sharks have left lasting impressions despite their infantry stage, but by nature of humanity and the demands of the beautiful game, many will remain asking for more.
The Promised Land is near, yet far.