Women Football: Kawempe Muslim, Olila forwards under test

What you need to know:

  • Khalifan has watched his team struggle to score goals this term, even at home. Nalukenge started brilliantly, scoring five in the first three games but has only managed to add two in nine games. Asia Nakibuuka picked on the mantle but managed just five goals as Kawempe topped Victoria Group to set up a playoff date with Kampala Queens.
  • In the space of one week, Gafford broke Kawempe’s three year-long unbeaten home record before She Corporate dumped them out of the Fufa Women Cup last weekend.

FWEL PLAYOFFS - TOMORROW

Kawempe vs. Kampala Queens, 1.30pm
Olila vs. Gafford, 4pm
FINALS: Saturday, May 26
*All Games At StarTimes, Lugogo

KAMPALA. It is a year since budding striker Juliet Nalukenge scored twice as Kawempe Muslim won a third consecutive Fufa Women Elite League (FWEL) title in Wankulukuku.

However, that 2016/17 title will always be seen as the last one Hasifah Nassuna won for Kawempe before moving to Uganda Christian University (UCU) Lady Cardinals, alongside goalkeeper Ruth Aturo and defender Yudaya Nakayenze. Habibah Namalwa, Lydia Namono, Joan Nakirya, Viola Namuddu and Favour Nambatya also moved on. From the squad that won the first ever FWEL title in the 2014/14 season, only five remain.
“It will be a pleasant surprise to win the league given the transition or influx of senior players that left,” Kawempe coach Ayub Khalifan, said.

Khalifan has watched his team struggle to score goals this term, even at home. Nalukenge started brilliantly, scoring five in the first three games but has only managed to add two in nine games. Asia Nakibuuka picked on the mantle but managed just five goals as Kawempe topped Victoria Group to set up a playoff date with Kampala Queens. In the space of one week, Gafford broke Kawempe’s three year-long unbeaten home record before She Corporate dumped them out of the Fufa Women Cup last weekend.

“We are playing to our best but we need to work better at finding goals. That is our only concern as we prepare for playoffs,” Khalifan, who must also sort a confidence crisis in the side, added.
Olila have similar concerns as they prepare to face Gafford – in a repeat of last year’s Women Cup final.