Proline seal it with double

Champions. Proline captain Noordin Bunjo lifts the Stanbic Uganda Cup after receiving it from FUFA President Moses Magogo (right). PHOTO BY JOHN BATANUDDE

Kampala. Having been criticised when they were relegated on the final day of the 2016/17 season, Proline spent this season lugging in the second-tier Fufa Big League like a bag of rocks.
The weight had grown more cumbersome as they twice missed the chance to qualify to the top flight in regular season before they finally snatched it on the final day in Kabale.
There were uncertainties but one man shouldered them on his shoulders, Shafiq Bisaso.

Last Saturday evening, before a handful of spectators at Masaka Recreation Centre, which had not seen enough football this season, Bisaso delivered on the grandest stage of his knockout career, leading Proline to their first Uganda Cup title in their 13-year-old history with a 5-4 victory in penalties after a 1-1 draw over Bright Stars.
“We have been dreaming of this and when we reached the final we knew it was in our hands,” Bisaso, who has won a record three Masaza Cup trophies and lost only one final, said after he delivered a ‘double’ for Proline.

A week earlier, he had lifted the Big League title from the jaws of Wakiso Giants at Lugogo. It was the case of the best team winning.
Proline were always positive and calm even when Bright Stars took the lead through Nelson Senkatuka from a free kick in the 58th minute.
Minutes earlier, Proline skipper Noordin Bunjo had fluffed an open chance with goalkeeper Hamza Muwonge beaten.

With the team ravaged by injuries, a 65th substitution of Hakim Kiwanuka, who has missed the last five games with an injury, seemed the game changer.
He put Bright Stars defenders on tenterhooks and he caused referee Ali Sabira to book Brian Kayanja while in the 90th minute, he made a powerful run down the left, beat two markers forcing Farook Katongole to handle the ball inside his penalty area. It was at this stage that Mustapha Mujuzi stood up to send Muwonge the wrong way for the equaliser.

The ensuing penalties saw Mujuzi, Bright Anukani, Ivan Egaku, Ivan Bogere and Kiwanuka convert their chances while Bright Stars captain Nelson Senkatuka saw his kick saved by KCCA loanee Hassan Matovu to send Proline sympathisers into a frenzy.
Ssaka Mpiima, who has won the league twice with KCCA but was a losing finalist also twice was ecstastic.

He said this was an improbable title because they were the first team from the Big League to win the championship. The only other team from the lower division to win the Uganda Cup was Gangama in 1976.
“I cannot believe that URA denied us the title in 2014, and Villa in 2015, yet I now win it with a lower league team,” he said, before announcing that this was his last year as an active footballer.
Team effort
Although Proline is a club with a happy-go-lucky attitude, Bisaso has instilled fighting qualities in his squad. His team is built around academy players; Joshua Okiror, Richard Ajuna (who has not missed any club games all season), David Owori, Noordin Bunjo and Joseph Mandela as well as national team player Mustapha Mujuzi, the club’s leading scorer in the Uganda Cup with three goals as well as youngsters Ivan Bogere, Bright Anukani and Hakim Kiwanuka.