Muwanga enjoys new home greatly

KAMPALA. He cracked a joke with Sadam Juma and they giggled; then body-checked Muzamiru Mutyaba and few others ceding territory only occasionally. Bernard Muwanga was at work.
 Mike Mutebi’s coaching crew and the players all went about their multiple drills with fun, yet given what awaits KCCA in Tunisia when they travel this weekend to face Esperance in the Caf Champions League, there was no escaping some moments of intensity at Lugogo.
 Muwanga, KCCA’s latest three-year acquisition at the heart of defence at the expense of SC Villa, was in the thick of that intensity.
 “I hate conceding,” he told Daily Monitor after yesterday’s morning training session, “When I came in coach Mike told me that what he expects of me is leadership. And that leadership means I have to show it in my resolve as well.
 “He said he brought me in to help the youngsters and I’m ready for the challenge.” That challenge comes in full force when Muwanga makes his continental debut in Tunisia next Tuesday.
 “Of course we know how strong Esperance is,” he explained, “If we got a point we won’t complain. But we shall go there and do our best for the best result.
 Muwanga, 26, who has formed some of the most solid defences at Bright Stars and Villa, and is now a regular in the Uganda Cranes.
 His move from Villa, where he was skipper, to KCCA is an upgrade given the events that have happened at the two clubs in the last good years.
 In the last three years, for example, KCCA and Villa have won the Uganda Cup once respectively, while the former have clinched five league titles since the Jogoos’ last in 2004.
 “The atmosphere here is different,” said Muwanga, “Yes Villa is my club from when I was young but now I’m a KCCA player and the few days am here I’m hugely impressed.
 “Yes professionalism is not 100 per cent but it is way ahead than anywhere at a Ugandan club. Generally I have to say that so far so good here.”