Olila stand between Kawempe and more history

KAMPALA.

Only Olila Ladies stand between Kawempe Muslim and a fourth successive Fufa Women Elite League (FWEL) title as the campaign climaxes today at Star Times Stadium, Lugogo.
Coming into Thursday’s playoffs where they beat Gafford 1-0 in Lugogo, this was the opponent Olila coach Saddam Pande, would have wanted to avoid.
But the unwritten sports rules suggest that to be the best, you must beat the best and that is what Kawempe have been over the years.
Olila on the other end are women’s football most progressive side with the 2017 Fufa Women Cup and now a league final, two seasons after flirting with relegation, to show for their efforts.
“We know what to expect and if we play with purpose like we did against Gafford there is no reason why we should not win,” Pande told SCORE, after a largely controlled but error-strewn performance from his midfielders on Thursday.
The records do not favour Pande as he lost to Kawempe in the playoffs last year and twice in the FWEL group stages when Olila were still also-rans in the 2015/16 season. That is the kind of history that gives Kawempe coach Ayub Khalifan the belief he can win a fourth league title.
“There is mutual respect between us and them but I want to believe we are the better team and that we can sniff another league title,” Khalifan said.
However, his first choice forwards Asia Nakibuuka and Juliet Nalukenge – who have just 12 goals between them and just two more than top scorer Maureen Kinavudori (UCU) in 13 games – must perform better after their profligacy ‘shone’ through in the last three games, including two home defeats in the FWEL and Cup.
“We hope the forwards can come to the party in the last game. We desperately need them to perform,” Khalifan said.
In the past, he could rely on now USA-based Sandra Nabweteme or Hasifah Nassuna, now at UCU but someone must shoulder the burden today.
On Thursday, the goal in a 1-1 regulation time draw with Kampala Queens came from defensive midfielder Tracy Jones Akiror before luck shined on goalkeeper Juliet Adeke in the penalty shootouts they won 5-4.
Akiror is an unlikely source for goals but one who is willing to do throw her body on the line for another title.
“We are disappointed in the way we lost to Gafford (final group game) and She Corporate (Women Cup). This is our only chance to save the season and we have to make it happen,” Akiror, one of the five remaining players from the team that won the first league title in 2015, said.