UPL: What the Vipers SC and KCCA FC clash told 

It will take some time before football fans stop talking about the Vipers SC and KCCA FC match last Saturday, November 9 at the St Mary’s stadium in Kitende.

The fact that therein was a world-class goal scored by KCCA FC’s Ashraf Mugume when the stadium was beginning to empty for a 1-1 result, did not only confirm that the Vipers/ KCCA clash is the biggest in the Uganda Premier League (UPL), but it told even more.

First of all, Mugume, 25, who if in the heat of the moment did not realize he scored a “worldy” against his former side, has not scored a more important goal in his career. No wonder, his club fans rewarded him with the man-of-the-match award on Monday, November 11, that came with a cash package of Shs 200,000.

Yet, it is not the first time that Mugume is scoring spectacular goals for KCCA. He did it against BUL FC on match-day two, and on the opening day of the 2021/22 season, his double against Wakiso Giants in a 3-2 victory had brilliance attached to it.

This raises the question as to why Mugume, a player, whom his coach Abdallah Mubiru considers a big talent, still huffs and puffs with inconsistency, but only shows glimpses of his class in a country, where attacking midfielders that create and score, and beauties like Jackson Mayanja used to, are in short supply.

Tom Damulira, a football pundit who has seen the greatest Uganda had to offer, has intermittently said that players today just do not push themselves as much hence the few flashes of brilliance seen. They need to love what they do. Another of Mugume’s contemporaries, Moses Waiswa and Karim Watambala had a blinder in Vipers’ midfield last Saturday, and were a big reason why their side dominated KCCA more in the second half.

The duo showed good ball winning and retention skills, something they struggled to muster at the Africa Nations Championship (Chan) tournament last year in Algeria, much to the chagrin of former Cranes coach, Milutin Sredojevic. But if a scout was in Kitende over the weekend, they would be on his list for the next signing.

Notably, the general feeling about the intensity of the Vipers/ KCCA clash created a feeling that if The Cranes apply themselves at the same level against South Africa on Friday, November 15, a positive result is a certainty. Although most players played out of their skin, it was not the case for KCCA’s play-maker, Bright Anukani.

Unlike his opposite Allan Okello, who continues to take charge, Anukani was not bright. He appeared to freeze. Observers still insist that Anukani, who is expected to be a go-to player, struggles in the big games. But this is his sixth season in the top-flight, and for one of Uganda’s current golden boys, patience is running out.

In turn, in Lawrence Mulindwa’s unveiling of former coach Nikola Kavazovic in August, he suggested his patience with local coaches had run thin. But the job coaching duo John Luyinda and Fred Muhumuza are doing since the Serbian was sacked, he must feel like eating his words now.

Together with KCCA’s Mubiru, these are real coaches. They improve players, like is evident seeing the quality of football their sides showcased. For all the years Vipers have been on top of football matters in Uganda, their recent displays eclipse almost all before. It is the Luyinda/Muhumuza combination, youthful Ugandan coaches, be reminded!