UCU no more than just big name signings

UCU Lady Cardinals’ Moureen Kinavudori in action last season. PHOTO BY I. KEZAALA

KAMPALA- If results are the ‘be and all’ of football then, Uganda Martyrs High School (UHMS), Lubaga’s ground is one bogey pitch to reigning Fufa female footballer of the year Hasifa Nassuna.
Last year, Nassuna and Kawempe Muslim lost 1-0 to Muteesa I Royal University at these grounds in the Fufa Women Cup.

On Sunday, Nassuna’s Fufa Women Elite League (FWEL) debut for her new side Uganda Chrsitian University (UCU) Lady Cardinals, ended in a 1-all draw with UHMS at the pitch that could easily pass for a potato shamba.
“The pitch was terrible and I had to ask one of their players why they dug it up at the beginning of a new season,” Nassuna said.
But blaming the pitch is only escaping the glaring deficiencies in the star-studded UCU side that now also boasts versatile defender Yudaya Nakayenze and goalkeeper Ruth Aturo from Kawempe.

The former missed the game through an injury sustained in training on Saturday while Aturo only came on after Elinah Nyramutuzo’s hip injury in the 34th minute.
With Moreen Kinavudori deployed deep in midfield and Nassuna roaming wings, UCU lacked creativity and hardly tested a younger and quicker UHMS defence for larger parts of the first half.

“Catherine (Nakiridde) came late and we had to alter the lineup but we also need regroup after the injuries,” UCU coach Tony Membe, said.
The home side translated the calmness at the back into pressure upfront an were rewarded as early as the 10th minute with a goal from Resty Nanziri after some fine work down the left wing by Anita Namata.

Four minutes after the break, the liner awarded a throw-in in UHMS’s favour but the referee gave it the other way. Nassuna quickly demanded for the ball from teammate Mercy Nabulobi and turned on her magic by looping the UHMS keeper Daphine Nyayenga from distance for the equalizer.
“We cannot dwell on the referee’s mistake but for us, this result is progress. We lost 2-1 to UCU in the playoffs last season and we expected them to be better than what they showed here today,” UHMS captain Shadia, said.

FWEL RESULTS
SATURDAY
Victoria: Muteesa 0-1 Ajax Queens
SUNDAY
E: Uganda Martyrs 0-0 UCU
E: Olila - Eastern Heroes
*Eastern did not show up
V: She Corporate 0-0 Gafford
E: Isra 2-2 She Mak, Kawempe