Shaban arrives in style

KAMPALA.

It was always going to be about him. And he duly announced his arrival at KCCA in grand style with a goal in the 2-0 victory over Police.
Yet Mohammad Shaban’s debut strike on 14 minutes could not overrule Allan Kateregga’s Man of the Match performance; the dread-locked ‘dancing rasta’ capping his impressive day with a solo effort five minutes from full time.
This was Shaban’s maiden game for KCCA after missing the first eight Azam Uganda Premier League (AUPL) matches following one of the most protracted moves - from Onduparaka - in Uganda’s history.
And when KCCA manager Mike Mutebi finally unleashed him last evening, the hunger, anger and frustration were all let on Abdallah Mubiru’s otherwise good, passing Police team.
Sadam Juma timed Shaban’s run with a quality ball that floated over Police high-line, the latter cleaning himself of Mugisha’s scent, rounding keeper Davies Mutebi and thumping into the roof from the goalline an angry shot whose message said: “This is for my time out.”
His manager, Mutebi was praises for Shaban. “We demand goals from a striker and he scored. Three chances and one goal.”
Shaban could have made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time in spectacular fashion, Kateregga’s cross from the right glanced on by Derrick Nsibambi for the former to rattle the crossbar off an overhead kick.
In between the halves and late in the game, Gift Ali, substitute Albert Mugisa, Hood Kaweesa and Ben Ocen all had the home side on the ropes but for Timothy Awany and keeper Charles Lukwago’s solidity. But the sting was finally snuffed out of Police when substitute Basan Saafi missed a free header off a corner.
Kateregga, who had twice rattled the crossbar, literally danced past three Police defenders from the right the other end to coolly curl the ball past goalkeeper Mutebi for a 2-0 lead.
Coach Mutebi’s opposite, Mubiru, promised a comeback. “We shall not be put down by just one bad result because the league is a marathon,” he said.
The result moved KCCA two places up to third on 16 points, one behind Police and Bright Stars, who beat Onduparaka 2-1 on the same day lowly Masavu stung Express by the same score.

AUPL Match Day 10 results
Bul 0- 1 SC Villa
Bright stars 2- 1 Ondupalaka
Mbarara C 0-1 Kirinya JSS
URA 1 -1 Proline
Maroons 0- 0 Soana
UPDF 1 -1 Vipers
KCCA 2- 0 Police
Express 1- 2 Masavu

STANDINGS

Club P W D L F A Pts
Police 10 5 2 3 13 9 17
Bright Stars 10 4 5 1 8 5 17
KCCA 9 4 4 1 17 5 16
Vipers 9 4 4 1 8 4 16
Villa 9 5 3 1 7 4 16
Onduparaka 10 4 4 2 9 7 16
Maroons 10 3 5 2 6 7 14
URA SC 10 3 4 3 9 5 13
Soana 10 3 4 3 5 7 13
Proline 9 3 2 4 11 9 11
inja 8 3 2 3 6 6 11
Mbarara City 9 2 4 3 4 7 10
BUL 10 2 3 5 5 11 9
Express FC 9 2 2 5 5 7 8
Masavu 10 2 1 7 5 19 7
UPDF 10 1 3 6 8 16 6