Blistering start with hat-tricks

The last season of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League (UPL) did not produce a hat-trick until match day eight. That is about 60 matches without the country witnessing three goals from an individual in one game.

With just 21 matches played in the 2020/21 season, the league is counting a train-load of goals, some hat-tricks and quadruples already.

The league has already celebrated three hat-tricks and two quadruples. 

The whole of last season registered only five hat-tricks and no player scored four goals in a single match. 

It’s just match day three and last season is already surpassed in the grand scheme of goal fests.

Increased drive

KCCA manager Mike Mutebi, who boasts of a hat-trick hero and four-goal grabber in one match, puts this down to the strikers desire and increased drive across the league.

“Teams are scoring more goals and winning matches,” he said after witnessing his strikers Brian Aheebwa and Sam Ssenyonjo plunder four and three goals, respectively, in the 8-0 peppering of Onduparaka.

“Aheebwa has justified why we signed him, and Ssenyonjo has shaken off injuries that affected him a lot last season. We expect more from him.” 

Ssenyonjo, Aheebwa, and UPDF’s Brian Kalumba jointly lead the scoring charts with five goals apiece after three matches.

“Overall, there is increased competition but no doubt we are the best team in the country,” Mutebi added.

What will encourage Mutebi even the more is that his two strikers have been involved in just about every of KCCA’s 12 goals so far.

They have scored 10 of them, with the other two coming from defenders.

Against Onduparaka on match day two, they were unplayable. Ssenyonjo got his hat-trick on 29’ 37’ 57’ minutes while Aheebwa upgraded his to a quadruple on 18’ 45’ 66’ and 73’.

KCCA top standings on nine points, followed, on goal difference, to surprise package UPDF.

Focus more on attack

No wonder coach Kefa Kisala’s soldiers are the only other side to produce a four-goal hero so far. 

Brian Kalumba downloaded four in the 5-1 thrashing of sorry Kitara on 1’, 10’, 30’ and 70’ minutes midweek.

UPDF are a team reborn. After earning promotion back to top-flight football under coach Steve Bogere, he fell out with his bosses and in came Kisala. The new man has not put a foot wrong so far.

“We concentrated more in attack even in our recruitment,” said Kisala.

“And talking more to our forwards. We have come to a realisation that we don’t score more in Uganda, so why not concentrate on goals! 

“Because, even if you defend all day, you will still concede, and even lose the game.”

Joseph Ssemujju’s goals on 44’, 64’, 71 minutes and Ben Ocen’s on 40’ 43’ 70 in Bul’s 3-1 victory over Busoga United and Police’s 5-0 drubbing of Kitara are the other hat-tricks so far.

Match day four gets underway tomorrow and if the first three are anything to go by, more goals and, possibly, hat-tricks await us. 

Ssenyonjo, Aheebwa, and UPDF’s Brian Kalumba jointly lead the scoring charts with five goals apiece after three matches.

“Overall, there is increased competition but no doubt we are the best team in the country,” Mutebi added.

What will encourage Mutebi even the more is that his two strikers have been involved in just about every of KCCA’s 12 goals so far.

They have scored 10 of them, with the other two coming from defenders.

Against Onduparaka on match day two, they were unplayable. Ssenyonjo got his hat-trick on 29’ 37’ 57’ minutes while Aheebwa upgraded his to a quadruple on 18’ 45’ 66’ and 73’.

KCCA top standings on nine points, followed, on goal difference, to surprise package UPDF.

Focus more on attack

No wonder coach Kefa Kisala’s soldiers are the only other side to produce a four-goal hero so far. 

Brian Kalumba downloaded four in the 5-1 thrashing of sorry Kitara on 1’, 10’, 30’ and 70’ minutes midweek.

UPDF are a team reborn. After earning promotion back to top-flight football under coach Steve Bogere, he fell out with his bosses and in came Kisala. The new man has not put a foot wrong so far.

“We concentrated more in attack even in our recruitment,” said Kisala.

“And talking more to our forwards. We have come to a realisation that we don’t score more in Uganda, so why not concentrate on goals! 

“Because, even if you defend all day, you will still concede, and even lose the game.”

Joseph Ssemujju’s goals on 44’, 64’, 71 minutes and Ben Ocen’s on 40’ 43’ 70 in Bul’s 3-1 victory over Busoga United and Police’s 5-0 drubbing of Kitara are the other hat-tricks so far.

Match day four gets underway tomorrow and if the first three are anything to go by, more goals and, possibly, hat-tricks await us. 

Hat-trick or more in UPL

THIS SEASON

KCCA 8-0 Onduparaka 

Sam Ssenyonjo (3) 29’ 37’ 57’

Brian Aheebwa (4) 18’ 45’ 66’ 73’

Bul 3-1 Busoga

Joseph Ssemujju (3) 44’ 64’ 71’

Kitara 1-5 UPDF

Brian Kalumba (3) 1’ 10’ 30’ 70’

Kitara 0-5 Police

Ben Ocen (3) 40’ 43’ 70’

LAST SEASON

KCCA 4-0 Onduparaka

Mike Mutyaba (3) 52’ 68’ 76’(P)

Onduparaka 7-1 Kyetume

Julius Malingumu (3) 20’ 61’ 78’

Jamal Malish (3) 51’ 55’ 67’

Bul 3-1 Mbarara

Musa Esenu (3) 26’ 32’ 45+1’

Bul 2-3 Vipers

Tito Okello (3) 9’ 28’ 73’