Lubega inspires Proline back to topflight football
Proline striker Edirisa Lubega (9) was his team’s hero at Nakivubo yesterday with two superb goals. Photo by Eddie Chicco
KAMPALA. There are still rough edges to Edirisa Lubega’s game. The inability to hold up play and a poor first touch at times, are some areas that can still be improved.
But there is plenty to like about him too. The burly centre forward’s direct style and raw pace are key assets that can trouble many defences.
His movement, as his coach at Proline Baker Mbowa stated yesterday is improving all the time too.
Those attributes were on show yesterday as Proline seized the final Azam Uganda Premier League qualification spot following a 4-1 win over Lira side Sporting United at Nakivubo yesterday.
The pair had qualified for the playoff final on Thursday after seeing off Ndejje and Masavu respectively.
Yesterday however belonged to Lubega with the striker scoring a brace to take his tally in the Big League to 21 goals and cap a mixed week in which he was summoned to the Cranes team.
On Friday, he was stopped by organizers from featuring again for his school Dynamic SS at the Copa Coca Cola football tournament after he left to take part in the playoffs.
He was involved in all four goals for his side as he was fouled for Gift Ali to drive home the resultant free kick and give Proline the lead that was cancelled out by a Dickens Okwi penalty.
He was then brought down for Simon Mbazira to slot home a 54th minute penalty before he lobbed goalkeeper Steven Odongo two minutes later.
He completed his double with a fine header as Proline joined Onduparaka and Kirinya-Jinja SS in next season’s topflight league two years after they were demoted.
And it is Kirinya-Jinja who will be promoted as Big League champions after defeating Uganda Cup semifinalists Onduparaka 2-0 in the evening game in front of arguably the largest crowd in the top two divisions this season. Musa Magumba got the first shortly before half time with Joseph Opolot netting the second after the restart to silence the opposition fans many of whom had travelled from Arua.
Big League summary
Big League playoffs Final
Proline 4-1 Sporting United
Big League final
Kirinya-Jinja 2-0 Onduparaka
Big League MVP - M. Shaban (Onduparaka)
Top scorer - Edirisa Lubega - 21 goals.
