Muwonge guides Bright Stars to maiden Cup final

Bright Stars coach Fred Kajoba told the Daily Monitor in an interview two years ago about how a good team is built starting from the goalkeeper.

If ever there were any doubts, Kajoba was vindicated yesterday when Hamza Muwonge, the goalkeeper he persuaded to come out of retirement, played a starring role as Bright Stars reached their first ever Uganda Cup final.

The former Cranes international goalkeeper saved three penalties to help Bright Stars overcome Express 3-2 in a penalty shootout.
“We owe this success to Hamza Muwonge,” Kiwanuka, the Bright Stars assistant coach stated after the game.

The custodian first tipped Michael Birungi’s spot-kick onto the bar before parrying further efforts from Sadik Sekyembe and Davis Mayanja to help Bright Stars win the shootout 3-2 and progress. Earlier, the two teams had played out a dour 1-all draw in regulation time with the outstanding John Revita curling in a third minute freekick.

They were however made to pay for failing to kill off the game despite creating more goalscoring opportunities.
Substitute James Angu’s stunning header from the 18-yard line nine minutes from time beat Tony Kyamera with the Express goalkeeper getting injured in the process as he attempted to push it wide.

Players sabotage
“My players failed me in the shoot outs. They told me they would organise themselves in order to take the spot kicks but I’m surprised Tony Odur didn’t take any, this is sabotage.

“The result aside, I’m happy with what I have achieved in the two months I have been here and the Express fans should know I contributed greatly to their 10 Uganda Cup trophies,” Express coach George Ssimwogerere remarked after what could have been his last game in charge.

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