How UPL clubs rate on preps
Red Eagle. Murushid Juuko joined Express
What you need to know:
- The strong expectation about Madondo joining St Mary’s to help Vipers retain the league title for the first time in five attempts have turned out to be mere passing cloud – there was hardly a whisper of it when the transfer window was closed.
November 20 it is. With the 16th and final composition of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League completed by Kitara on Wednesday, the 2020-2021 season is set to kick off at last.
UPL are due to draw up the fixtures to set the ball rolling in one of the most frenzied happy-go-lucky transfer activities in the league history. So intense it has been that you just wouldn’t be shocked if Vipers unveiled “one for the road” today.
But how do each club rate in terms of preparation ahead of the new campaign?
Sources have intimated to SCORE that whereas the transfer window has been shut, league champions Vipers are keen to add to their firepower that has been depleted with the departure of Fahad Bayo to Israeli side Ashdod.
Throughout the transfer season, Vipers tactician Fred Kajoba has sounded confident that his current squad has fangs lethal enough to put down any opponent.
They let go of Steven Mukwala assured that Muhammad Shaban will do the job after a year out with injury but Kajoba has wanted former Busoga United striker Joel Madondo who, like Shaban, returned from a failed professional life at Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca, to join the St Mary’s Kitende-based outfit.
The strong expectation about Madondo joining St Mary’s to help Vipers retain the league title for the first time in five attempts have turned out to be mere passing cloud – there was hardly a whisper of it when the transfer window was closed.
Like Vipers, Express started their activity at the top, swapping Hamza Jjunju with Isaac Mwesigwa in the CEO seat. Then, after losing skipper Galiwango controversially, the Red Eagles went into a frenzy, signing almost everything that passed with a fibre ball in front of them.
Sixteen players, crowned with the capture of Cranes centre back Murushid Juuko from Wydad.
KCCA have were just as frenzied, only more glamorous with TV show to unveil players on. Cranes utility player Denis Iguma, Bright Anukani, Stefano Mazengo, Brian Aheebwa.
The big gate saw Saddam Juma, Mike Mutyaba, Eric Ssenjobe, Jackson Nunda, Jamil Malyamungu, Tom Ikara and Erisa Ssekisambu exit during ins and outs that have been faster than the movement of a piston of a speeding Subaru.
Former Cranes midfielder Tony Mawejje will rewind the clock at Police, Nunda is at URA and record champions Villa have handed the future of the club to their fans in a bold rebuild plan.
Uganda Premier League
2020-2021 season programmes
Club licensing Closed Oct. 15th
Player registration Closed Oct. 19th
Fixtures release Oct. 20th(delayed)
League kickoff Nov. 20th(delayed)
Kitara get an extended transfer and registration deadline to carry on with their preps on humanitarian grounds having only clinched their promotion to UPL midweek.
