Kayiwa beat odds to become UPL top-scorer

Allan Kayiwa joined the exclusive class of league top-scorers, that played for Express FC, following the 13 goals he scored in the 2022/23 Uganda Premier League (UPL) season.

Legendary Hassan Mubiru was last to do it for Express FC in the 2002 and 2003 seasons, when he banged in 23 and 24 goals respectively.

In fact, if there is one sure award that is going to be handed out at the UPL Pilsner awards tomorrow evening, it is the one of Kayiwa, as he stands unchallenged. How- ever, while Kayiwa is assured of smiling all the way to the bank, his success story is the proverbial ‘from grass to grace’.

Kayiwa was such an unlikely winner of the ‘golden boot’ seeing how much he had fallen from grace. In 2014, Kayiwa broke onto the scene at Soana FC, which later turned into Tooro United. For the four seasons he was there, he lit up the league with his good football skills.

Playing off the left, normally, while cutting inside, Kayiwa dazzled with his graceful dribbling, and whoever watched him then, only concluded one thing- that he was destined for the top.

He was a breath of fresh air, not only because of the flair he had. But also because of the manner in which he scored goals, and created them. It was unsurprising that in mid-2019, Kayiwa made the step from Soana to Vipers SC. Up until the end of the 2021/22 season, a period in which Kayiwa won two league titles and a Cup, he hardly played. And when he played, some times it was out of position- at right back.

“Things did not work out for me at Vipers. I was not happy because I was not playing much,” Kayiwa recalls.

In fact, for all the three seasons Kayiwa was at Vipers, he did not score more than five goals. And never did he win a Man-of-the-Match award. The just-ended sea- son at Express saw him bag four of such kind.

“I am enjoying my football now. And coach James Odoch has shown me much trust, which has boosted my confidence at Express.”

Sadly, it is not for certain that Kayiwa will be at Express next season. His contract ran out on June 30, and no renewal has been tabled.

But following his scoring streak last season, which encompassed five goals from free-kicks, four penalties, and four from open play, speculation linking Kayiwa with a move to either Azam FC or APR FC in Rwanda is not misplaced.