Aaron okotel
MBALE
The newly appointed Islamic University in Uganda soccer club (IUIU SC) assistant sports administrator and trainer Mubaraka ‘Wakaso’ Kagwa has promised a statement performance in this year’s ongoing Pepsi University League.
IUIU SC plays Victoria University today, Monday 25th at IUIU main campus Mbale play ground in their opening game.
The former University captain comes with vast experience in the inter university competition having played and captained the team for a couple of years after where he also had a stint with big league side Kataka FC.
Kagwa says his first assignment is to ensure the team gets past the group stages and he is optimistic his players are well prepared to face the task ahead.
“I don’t want to say we are the outright favorites to win the trophy, but winning this trophy is our major target given the vast experience we have in this competition playing our fourth season, I believe all the players are ready and the entire technical team.”
Last season, IUIU SC failed to get out of the group that comprised of Bugema and Busitema, however this time around they will have to battle it out in group B that has MUBS, YMCA and Victoria University.
The coach has called on all the fans to continue with the spirit of cheering the team, and promised them the same performance in which they have watched the team play in friendly games.
With the vast exit of most senior players on the team because they are no longer eligible, players like Ibandha Nelson, Phillip ‘Gerald’ Kagwa and Simiyu Ngeywa will be out of the university team.
However, coach Kagwa says the situation doesn’t worry as the team has integrated new faces that will fill the void.
“Because of the academic setup we are in, there are some players whose eligibility expires for example once they surpass the required age or graduate, but those who qualified are all available in camp and ready to play.”
When asked about his big guns, Kagwa says there is no particular player who the team will rely on adding that each player is on the team on merit according to their position of play.
Some of the new players on the team are Shadat Musasizi who was signed from Galaxy FC Tororo will be assigned to play that vital number one role, Emma Shikanga from Bugisu H/S, Mwenyi Joseph from Score FC, Kakaire Hamis from Jinja Progressive SS etc,
However, players like captain Kawooya Imamu Shafic, Striker IsmaTamubula, Moses Kasule, Walwasa Leo, Onongo Denis, Pere Sudaisi, MafabiAshim, Sam Watuwa etc are all still on the team, according to coach Kagwa, these are the backbone for him to build another winning team.
IUIU’s best finish so far in the University leagues is the quarter finals in 2018 where they lost to Bugema 2-1 on aggregate.
