By Aaron Okotel
MBALE CITY
OPINION
Could history be on the verge of repeating itself in Ugandan football? Mbale-based FUFA Big League outfit Kataka FC is turning heads and raising eyebrows as they march through the 2024/2025 Uganda Cup.
Their remarkable journey has landed them in the semifinals alongside three Uganda Premier League giants: KCCA FC, Vipers SC, and defending champions Kitara FC.
Kataka’s path to the final four has been nothing short of sensational. They’ve already felled two top-tier sides, demonstrating a tenacity and tactical prowess that belies their second-division status. In the quarterfinals, they stunned Police FC with an away victory, a feat they repeated in the Round of 16 against URA FC. These away triumphs have firmly established Kataka as a serious contender for this year’s Uganda Cup trophy.
The echoes of Proline Football Club’s 2019 Uganda Cup triumph resonate strongly. Proline, then a Big League team, defied expectations to lift the coveted trophy, earning them a coveted spot in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Kataka’s current campaign bears a striking resemblance to Proline’s fairytale run under the guidance of Coach Saka Mpima, boasting a star studied team featuring the likes of Musitafa Mujjuzi, Bright Anukani, Allan, Ivan Bogere, Hakim Kiwanuka and Nuridin Bunjo.
Adding another layer of intrigue is the precedent set by Paidha Black Angels in 2017. Despite being a Big League side and losing finalists in the Uganda Cup, Paidha Black Angels were initially nominated to represent Uganda in the CAF Confederation Cup. This unusual circumstance arose because league champions KCCA FC had secured a domestic double and were eligible for the higher-tier CAF Champions League.
However, Paidha Black Angels’ inability to meet the necessary financial obligations ultimately paved the way for Express FC to participate in the continental competition. This serves as a cautionary tale for any non-Premier League side with CAF aspirations.
This season presents a unique scenario. Should Vipers SC win the Uganda Premier League title and subsequently face Kataka FC in the Uganda Cup final, Kataka would automatically secure Uganda’s slot in next year’s CAF competition, regardless of the final result. This quirk in the regulations offers Kataka a clear pathway to continental football.
While financial stability will undoubtedly be a crucial factor should Kataka reach that stage, their on-field performances have already ignited the hopes of their fans and the wider footballing fraternity in Mbale. The question now remains: can Kataka FC emulate Proline’s success and potentially follow in the footsteps of Paidha Black Angels (albeit with hopefully a different outcome regarding CAF participation)?
The remainder of the Uganda Cup promises to be a thrilling spectacle as this determined Big League side aims to write its own chapter in Ugandan football history and potentially stake a claim on the continental stage.
