Mbarara City FC are closing in on the appointment of Kefa Kisala as their new head coach, after club chairman Mwiine Mpaka brought their search for a new head coach to a close.

Football256 understands that Mbarara has decided on the former Express and Wakiso Giants coach, with a deal in principle agreed for him to take over at the club.

Kisala travelled to Western Uganda on Monday to seal the final details of the deal with the club amid interest from a couple of other clubs.

The Ankole Lions have been on the search for a new head coach since the resignation of former coach Livingstone Mbabazi in July, with a number of coaches both local and international linked to the vacant role.

The search for a new coach at the club has not been without chaos as different names were identified and held talks with Mbarara City.

Mbarara also considered former Mtibwa Sugar coach Thierry Hitimana with the Rwandese expected to put pen to paper at a certain point, but nothing was concluded.

They also pursued their former assistant coach Sadiq Ssempigi, but he walked out of the club citing irreconcilable differences in the intentions and objectives between the two parties.

The club had discussions with former BUL Bidco FC coach Peter Onen and Tooro United boss Edward Golola, but on both occasions, talks over a potential appointment broke down.

Kisala was not initially considered among the candidates when he mutually agreed to part ways with UPDF FC at the end of last season, but has now emerged as a strong contender over the past couple of days.

The former Express winger left UPDF after a season, during which he helped the club finish an impressive seventh in the league in the club’s season back to the top flight.