By
John Vianney Nsimbe
WEEKLY OBSERVER
The chances that a newly promoted team will survive relegation
are as high as hoping to find a nun in Club Obbligato jigging
away at 3a.m.
As they came, apart from Nalubaale, is the way they returned:
Maroons, Biharwe, CRO and Ediofe. So why is that the case?
"The new teams are intimidated by the Super League
because they're normally young players. Others, once they
play well at the start and the big teams start talking about
them, they lose their game," reasoned David Otti, former
coach of CRO.
But it all boils down to confidence. Young players aren't
confident enough to help a team keep afloat in the topflight
as Maroons showed. But Maroons football director Mike Mutebi
responded: "Our ideology is to bring forth a new crop
of players and help them learn."
Mutebi's philosophy has always been youth because he believes
that the old players have little drive since they have nothing
to prove.
But such a move has its downfall. As Maroons stuck to youth,
Nalubaale went for experience. The Buikwe side recruited
experienced legs in Phillip Obwin, Geoffrey Serunkuma and
Eritrean star Bebasy Okubazigi in mid-season. They as a
result secured results against Villa and Express among others
to be glued in mid-table. Isaac Mukasa, Nalubaale's CEO
said that experienced players steadied their ship and added
confidence.
With other seasoned campaigners and winners in Emmanuel
Balyejusa, Muhammed Byansi and David Kiwanuka, Nalubaale
staved off relegation.
For the record, KCC FC won their eighth Super League title
after Police FC held SC Villa to a goalless draw and the
Yellows beat Bunamwaya 2-0, Tuesday.
It was a remarkable achievement for KCC coach George Nsimbe
who won 12 of the 13 matches he was in charge.
jovi@ugandaobserver.com
Top performers
Champions: KCC FC
Relegated: Maroons, CRO, Biharwe, Ediofe
Top scorer: Bruno Olobo (Simba) and Brian Umony (KCC). 15.
(Olobo still has a game left)
Best goalkeeper: Sam Kawalya. (Just ahead of Abel Dhaira)
Flop of the season: Andrew Nkurunugi (Villa)
Find of the seaon: (Umony, Willy Kavuma, Ayub Kisalita)
Best coach: George Nsimbe
Best XI: S. Kawalya; S. Masaba, G. Walusimbi, O. Hitmana,
E. Ssali; D. Mubiru, D. Wagaluka, W. Kavuma; Umony, Kavuma,
Bengo
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