How Buddu failed to defend Masaza Cup

Poor Return. Buddu captain Atendele.

For someone who has been following the Masaza Cup tournament since 2004, they will acknowledge that Buddu have been the model club.
The defending champions have been in imperious form over the years. But things have fallen apart this season.
Buddu got off on a wrong footing in their opener on May 13. With Kabaka Ronald Mutebi II in attendance, Buddu could not find their rhythm as they shared spoils with the Brian Ssenyondo-coached Mawogola.
Disorganization is partly to blame for the feeble season. They started without most of the members of the 2016 winning team including dangerman Joseph Janjali, whose contract was not renewed. Buddu reportedly failed to come good on their Shs3m promise to the star man.
Shakidu Mbaziira was also one of the notable absentees. Mbaziira is vividly remembered for having been at the helm of the standoff between the players and team management after last year’s victory. The players refuted the Shs200,000 offer and it sparked action from team official Vincent ‘Pookino’ Mayiga who ‘fired’ ring leader Mbaziira after a ‘crisis’ meeting on August 26, 2016.
Mayiga’s sack did not spare team manager Meddy Sserwadda and technical bench member Peter Ssenabulya. Their crime was allegedly ‘gross mismanagement’ of the team. “Mayiga’s decision shocked me,” Bogere, Buddu’s coach, confessed to SCORE.
With Geriga Atendele enjoying the captaincy mantle for the last two campaigns, Buddu had not lost a single match but their demise came courtesy of a 4-3 post-match penalties semifinal loss to Gomba at Masaka Recreation last Sunday. Earlier in the season, fate had befallen the traditional giants when their erstwhile 50-year-old assistant coach Jimmy Paddy Kisekka breathed his last on July 7 due to congestive heart failure.
Next Saturday, Bogere’s side will only travelling to Namboole to participate in a third-place playoff against Busiro.