Buddo crowned Copa champions

Best in Uganda: Buddo SS players celebrate after being crowned 2018 Copa Coca-Cola schools champions. PHOTO by George Katongole

Mbarara.

When Buddo SS added the super striker Frank Ssebuufu to their dream team last year, it was obvious that they were the team to beat in schools football. They smartly executed the job beating the spirited 11 commandos of Kimaanya 1-0 in Saturday’s final at Kakyeka.
But initially, it didn’t work out quite as smoothly as they would have hoped after they lost 2-1 to powerhouse St Mary’s Kitende in the Wakiso zonal qualifiers. It meant that they went to Mbarara as the second best team.
The proprietor Lawrence Muwonge had made massive investments hiring coach Simon Mugerwa from Masaka SS to team with Hamza Lutalo.
Games master Hakim Ssebunya was ordered to shop for the best talent around as the school’s main focus was to shine in football.

Plenty of talent
They consequently brought in Ssebuufu from Wagwa in Masaka, Abu Kajabwangu (St John’s Mukono), Ibrahim Thembo (Mukono HS) and Emmanuel Loki (Kisubi High). They joined Tony Kyamera and Mark Nsubuga. But the dream team had been established six years ago with Samuel Kato, Masuudi Kafeero, Goffin Oyirwoth, Stephen Anguzo, Saddam Masereka, Hakim Kiwanuka and Ramathan Juma joining in lower secondary.
At the Copa finals in Mbarara, few doubted Buddo were favourites to win the title. Their squad was second to none and they were impressive, scoring the most goals, 42 of the total 555 shared among the 58 participants.
Who was going to stop them?
The answer – or perceived wisdom, at least – was themselves. U-20 star Masereka’s injury would pile all the pressure on Ssebuufu but he defied logic scoring 14 goals including two hat-tricks. Depending on which side of the fence you sit, the other contenders, Kitende, Kibuli, Nakaseke and Masaka SS all lacked any match winners. The bigger issue was however the arrival of an experienced Mugerwa to help them cross the line they last did in 2009.

Teamwork
However, Mugerwa knows that winning comes through teamwork and the chastening experience of underwhelming performances which sufficed when they needed to win the schools’ biggest prize.
With the East African games looming large, Mugerwa’s intent is on taking Kitende’s crown in Rwanda this August. And you sense that Buddo are more prepared this year.
With Kitende and Kibuli sharing the 18 titles, Buddo and Old Kampala are now joint-second on two.

Budo’s road to glory

Final: Kimaanya 0-1 Buddo
Semis: Buddo 0-0 Agape (Pens. 3-1)
Quarters: Buddo 2-0 Kigezi
Last 16: Buddo 3-0 Mbarara HS
Group E: Buddo 5-0 Ryakasinga, Sebei College 0-15 Buddo, Amuria 0-4 Buddo, Buddo 1-1 Kibuli, Buddo 5-0 Iganga TV 5-0, Nakaseke 1-1 Buddo