By Trevor Mark Lutwama
The 2022/23 FWSL season kicked off officially on Saturday, 17th September 2022 as new entrants Makerere University WFC took on defending champions She Corporate FC, and 45 games have since been played.
Its been quite the anticipated action, yet there has been a number of talking points as well.
Struggling defending champions
From being runners-up in the CAF Women Champions league CECAFA zonals qualifiers, the 2022 FWSL champions, She Corporate started their campaign on a low note as they played the first four games without registering a win.
The Sharks failed to make their home ground(MUBS Arena) a fortress as they lost two games and drew twice from the four games played there.
Injuries didn’t do the Nakawa based outfit any favors as Favour Nambatya, Winnie Nabaale, their skipper Naome Nagabya sat out a number of them.
Meanwhile Suzan Atim, Ronah Nantenge and Grace Nassongo never appeared on any match day squad due to the injuries sustained from last season.
Kampala Queens dominance
Having looked good in the transfer window, it’s not by surprise for the Kabojja based side to be most impressive team this season.
The FWSL powerhouse collected maximum points from their nine games, totalling 27 points, scoring 18 goals and conceding only twice.
The squad depth helped the Queens dominate the league, as they had new influential faces like Daisy Nakaziro, Asia Nakibuuka, Sumaya Komuntale, on addition to players in Shamirah Nalugya, Margret Kunihira, Lillian Mutuuzo and others.
Kampala Queens are table leaders with an eight-point advantage over Uganda Martyrs, who are placed second on the log.
FWSL 2022/23 newbies
New league entrants Makerere University WFC and Asubo Gafford ladies FC were promoted this season and at the end of the 1st round, its the latter which has had a slightly better performance than the former.
She Mak bagged eight points with two wins, two stalemates and four defeats and lie eighth, while their counterparts Asubo lie rock-bottom with four points accumulated.
Battle of the golden boot
The golden boot fight is between UCU’s Ashiat Naluggwa and Kampala Queens’ Resty Nanziri who have a total of 14 goals between them, with seven each. Latifah Nakasi of Uganda Martyrs is third with six goals.
A Total of 133 goals were scored from the 45 matches played in the first round with an average of 2.96 goals per game.
Uganda Martyrs scored the most goals (21), averaging 2.3 goals in 9 games, while Gafford conceded most with 28 goals leaked.
Relegation candidates Asubo Gafford and Rines SS scored the fewest goals in the competition, with each garnering eight.
Rescheduling of kickoff time
The kickoff time was adjusted from 4PM to 10AMby FUFA so as to create enough media coverage for the five televised games.
This resulted into an increase in broadcasted games on TV, compared to last season. Over 20 games have been televised live this season on FUFA TV.
My FWSL 1st round Best XI: Daisy Nakaziro(GK)-KQ, Asia Nakibuuka(KQ), Sumaya Komuntala(KQ), Bridget Nabisaalu(UCU), Patricia Akiror(KQ), Shakira Mutiibwa(KQ), Kevin Nakacwa(Uganda Martyrs), Hadija Nandago(Kawempe), Resty Nanziri(KQ), Latifa Nakasi(Uganda Martyrs), Ashiat Naluggwa(UCU),
Head coach: Collins Ahumuza(UCU)
Special mentions: Rose Bamaniriza(GK)-Lady Doves, Catherine Nagadya(Uganda Martyrs),Norah Alupo(Lady Doves), Lukia Namubiru(KQ), Brenda Munyana(Uganda martyrs), Dauphine Nalubowa(Makerere), Patience Nabulobi(Uganda Martyrs)
The Second round of the FUFA Women Super will resume on 5th February 2023.
