How Wananchi surmounted title challenge

KAMPALA- When Wananchi lost 2-1 to Weatherhead in the second round of the men’s Uganda Baati League, it looked like the champions would have a mountain to climb to defend their title.

That result on May 8 left them five points off pace as they had also drawn 1-1 with Kampala Hockey Club (KHC) Stallions in the first round. Weatherhead hammered KHC 4-0 then.

A 1-1 second round draw between Weatherhead and KHC on June 15 brought Wananchi back to within just three points (a win over Weatherhead) of controlling table standings.

On August 4, Weatherhead were favourites to extend this lead but conspired to lose 2-0 to a depleted Wananchi in the third round.
The champions’ belief was strengthened as they drew level on points. They could have taken cruise control from here but a series of postponed matches – as time was dedicated to national team training and the pitch hired away by National Council of Sports – kept Wananchi mathematically away.

Not enough help from other clubs
For most of the second half of the season, Wananchi had three games in hand against Rockets (2) and Makerere University.
Unfortunately, Weatherhead could not count on those two to sway the title as Wananchi beat them by a combined 21 goals. Both sides also drew with KHC to nullify any gains.

By the time the fixtures were reconciled in lead to last Sunday’s title decider, both Weatherhead and Wananchi were level on 60 points. The former had, however, scored 118 goals and conceded 17 goals while the latter were leading with 126 goals and just 16 conceded.
Weatherhead’s self-destruction

All Wananchi needed was a draw to defend their title while the challengers needed to win. And for 58 minutes, the challengers led 3-2 but were punished for their late self-destruction informed by red cards to Timothy Ntumba, who was bending the game to his will up and till this point, and Brian Okodi plus a yellow card to Ashiraf Tumwesigye
Wananchi won 4-2 – owing to two late goals from Innocent Anywar – to hoist the title with 63 points.
‘We are stronger together’

That final game in ways reflected deeply on Wananchi’s motto ‘Pamoja ni nguvu’ loosely translated from Kiswahili to ‘We are stronger together’. Their first goal – an equalizer after going behind in just seconds after hit-off – was scored by Shafic Byamukama, a genuine prodigy who has just been promoted to Senior Two at Kakugulu Memorial School. His colleague Swaib Isabirye has been a big revelation in their defence for the last two rounds.

The club also called their stars of old like Derrick Akuwa, who missed majority of the season, for this one and even though there were tough moments for him in the game, they kept the trust in him – so much that he delivered the ball for their fourth goal.

In his absence and that of many others, Innocent Mbabali and Anywar have had to step up as team trainers and to score important goals too.
Emmanuel Baguma and Collines Batusa have had to curb their attacking instincts to do a defensive job for the team.

With this sacrifice, this quartet has not only reduced the burden on Thomas Opio to score goals that match Weatherhead’s player coach Vincent Kasasa but also helped their team match the efforts Peter Elolu, Ntumba and Tumwesigye bring to Weatherhead.

Warning signs
Ultimately, it seems the only thing no one paid attention to was Wananchi’s undeniable winning spirit. They had already seen off Weatherhead – on penalties – and KHC in the finals of the Easter and Independence Open.
For them the league decider was just another game were the only expectation and demand was to win.

UGANDA BAATI HOCKEY LEAGUE
AWARDS
Winners
M: Wananchi
W: Wananchi
Most Valuable Player
M: Innocent Mbabali (Wananchi)
W: Norah Alum (Wananchi)
Top Scorers
M: Vincent Arnold Kasasa (Weatherhead) – 24 goals
W: Doreen Mbabazi (Wananchi) – 12 goals
Best Keepers
M: Charles Ekapolon (Weatherhead)
W: Hajira Namwase (Wananchi)
Best Journalists
Makhtum Muziransa (Daily Monitor)
Thomas Odongo (Uganda Sports Journal / Red Pepper)

[email protected]