Express FC coach Morley Byekwaso has called for improvement in attack after his side drew 0-0 with Lugazi FC in the Uganda Premier League at Lugazi Stadium in Najjembe on Wednesday.
The Red Eagles created chances but failed to find a breakthrough, extending their winless run and leaving Byekwaso convinced that his young side still has plenty to learn about life in the top flight.
“We are keeping on learning every day. We faced a tough team. Lugazi, as you told me, has been defeating experts,” Byekwaso said after the Matchday Seven encounter on October 21, 2026.
“Our boys really played well, but football is football. We are still learning the league.”
Express showed effort but lacked the cutting edge to turn their chances into goals. Byekwaso believes that will improve with time, although he wants his players to do more in the final third.
“That’s why we are failing to adapt to some situations, like being clinical when scoring. With time it will come, but we need to do more to see that we improve in the attacking department,” he said.
The result could have been worse for Express had goalkeeper Mathias Kigonya not produced several important saves. His performance earned him the Man of the Match award as the visitors held on for a point.
Byekwaso also defended his decision to leave several regular starters on the bench, saying the demands of the league made it necessary to manage fatigue and introduce fresh legs.
Peter Onzima, Alpha Thierry Ssali, Isaac Wagoina and Isa Glory Kisuule were among those who started on the bench, and Moses Sseruyide, who all later came on.
The Express coach explained that the pace, physical battles and pressure of the league can take a toll on players, especially those who feature regularly.
“When a team plays many games with high intensity, with teams which want to take the trophy, you don’t expect them to be on their top level in the 6th game, because of the fatigue, the speed which applies in the game, the duels,” he said.
“Sometimes they run out of ideas because of the fatigue. The reason why I benched these ones who have been playing a lot was to bring fresh legs into the game, and it really worked for us.”
Beyond managing fatigue, Byekwaso is also working to make his squad more flexible by training players to perform in different positions.
The coach, who has experience in youth development in Ugandan football, believes that versatility is important because teams cannot always rely on players to perform in their natural positions.
“Football is all about practice. When you see a player practising in a certain position, you always do rotations on the pitch; you try them somewhere to see that, when emergency cases come, you will be rich in all players, rather than expecting this one in his natural position to play. When he doesn’t, then problems occur,” he explained.
He said the club regularly rotates players during training to discover where they can be most effective and prepare the team for unexpected situations.
“It’s the reason why we always do that rotation training, to find out who can be better here, who can be better there. I’m so happy that they have not ashamed us; they have done their best.”
Despite dropping two points, Byekwaso felt Express had done enough to win and backed his players to respond in their next outing.
“We deserve to have a win, but we pray that God will give us in the next game,” he said.
The draw was Express’ third of the season and left them 13th on six points after seven matches. Lugazi moved to 11th with eight points, having recorded their second draw of the campaign.