Proline show improvement in Mbarara City AUPL whitewash

Super shift. Matovu rounds off Mbarara City’s defender Zaidi Byekwaso (L) to score Proline’s second on Friday at the StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO

KAMPALA. Not since the days of a then defunct Uganda Super League (USL) has Proline been so assertive, pleasing on the eye and clinical like they were in the 3-0 thumping of Mbarara City on Friday at Lugogo.
Every stat was in the host’s favour as they gave the Azam Uganda Premier League (AUPL) new entrants a glimpse at the rough side of the league. The rout started as early as the fourth minute when striker Fahad Bayo nodded home a well-weighed in Sulaiman ‘Malouda’ Matovu cross beyond hapless Ali Kimera, who was standing in between the Mbarara City goalposts.
Matovu then turned from provider to scorer when he expertly controlled a looping ball to fire in Proline’s second on 23 minutes.
Mbarara City’s rusty defence of Yeseri Waibi, Asuman Alishe and Asuman Buyinza made work easier for Mujib Kasule’s side as they stood at six and sevens the entire afternoon and had themselves to blame for all the three goals they conceded.
After missing the four shots on goal they attained, the visitors were then punished again in the 62nd minute when Bayo orchestrated a move from the left to set up midfielder Joseph Mandela who headed into an empty net.
“It gives me joy to see the boys following every instruction we gave them,” Proline deputy coach Baker Mbowa told Sunday Monitor. “This is just the start, we hope to do even better against Jinja SSS in our next tie.”
If there is anything Proline perfected on Friday, it was the seamless blend of youth and experience.
The old guard led by Matovu and Savio Kabugo, expertly commanded the young guns Bayo, Saidi Keni, Mandela, Sam Kintu, David Owor and Joshua Okiror to portray Proline as a force to reckon with this season.
“It wasn’t our day, the better side won,” Mbarara City skipper Alishe, formerly at Villa and Vipers, revealed after the game.
Such was the significance of Proline’s second win of the season that it temporarily lifted them to fourth with seven points from five games before yesterday’s four AUPL matches.