Kibuli lift Copa title

Kibuli players celebrate over their trophy after beating rivals St Mary’s College Kitende in a tense shoot-out last Saturday. Photo by Simon Emwamu

Soroti. After all the pre-tournament mind games, promises and anxiety, the 24th edition of the Copa Coca-cola schools cup in Soroti was decided by Kibuli’s class and pedigree on Saturday.
Kibuli SS - ‘the school’ - as its profoundly referred to, captured an unprecedented 10th schools football title with a 4-3 victory on spot kicks over Wakiso-based rivals St Mary’s Kitende, after coming from a goal down to level the score 1-1 in 70 minutes of play.

Eight time winners Kitende were gunning to equal Kibuli’s trophy haul but couldn’t stop the determined and more efficient Kampala side from making it 10. With narrow escapes against Citizen SS and Blessed Sacrament Kimaanya, the prophetic signs were on the wall right from the last 16 stage that Kitende would struggle to retain the trophy but few cared to read them.
Kibuli did. Apart from being the only side to score in normal time against Kitende, they made Richard Wasswa’s star-studded side look average.

Kibuli’s midfield trident of Moses Aliro, exceptionally talented Allan Okello and Julius Poloto formed rings around Kitende’s hitherto feared midfield diamond of Fred Atuhwera, Frank Tumwesige, Ashraf Bamuturaki and Pius Obuya - attracting ululations from the capacity crowd at Soroti Sports ground.
Even when Pius Wanji netted Kitende’s lead through a penalty, Kibuli, under the tactical stewardship of Dan Kabale, stayed focused and attacked like wounded lions until Aliro’s ‘hand of God’ goal leveled matters late on.
Kitende’s 4-3-3 formation failed to keep MVP okello at bay and lethal left footed KCCA star’s deep lying passes and tight angle dribbles made them restless as they stood at sixes and sevens.

Okello was nearly flawless in the end to end attacking game sparing time to ignite the move that left Kitende defence in tatters before Aliro placed the ball beyond custodian Eric Kibowa who had not conceded in over 340 minutes.
“People talked about Kitende’s superiority but deep inside my heart I knew I would hurt them any day with the Poloto-Aliro-Okello attacking combo. Even when we were a goal down, my boys had it in their veins that we must win the game,” Kabale, who guided Kibuli from the brink of group exit to deserved champions, noted.

Simon Bazibu, Poloto, Aliro and Steven Mukwana scored the post match spot kicks for Kibuli whereas Kitende’s Frank Tumwesige and Jerry Jakisa were stopped by in form custodian Edgar Otim.
Coca-cola Uganda Brand manager Rodney Nzioka congratulated the winning team team upon their victory and encouraged all the participating schools not to give up.

The key facts in Soroti
Kibuli’s Allan Okello was voted tourney MVP

Kitende’s Pius Wanji was the top scorer with 15 goals followed by Kimaanya SS striker Robert Mukogyatya (9)

A total of 179 matches were played at the eight stadiums used.

Match officials dished out 14 red cards and 294 yellow cards.

A total of 418 goals were scored at the tourney that had over 64 schools.

Copa chief scout Matia Lule compiled a list of 84 best players and forwarded it to Fufa through federation Vice president Justus Mugisha.

A total of 1008 students participated in the tourney that was held at Teso College Aloet and Soroti sport grounds.

Over 45 mercenary students were eliminated whereas St. Paul SS from Tororo and Karuguuza were banned for one year each.

24 referees took part in the tournament under the watchful eye of FIFA instructors Ronnie Kalema and Abbas Ssendyowa.

Dick Okello was the center referee for the final game assisted by Samuel Katende, Solomon Lusimbula and William Oloya.