The 2020/2021 StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) kicks off with KCCA FC visiting Soltilo Bright Stars FC at the Kavumba Recreation Center on Thursday, December 3.
In a bid to reclaim the league title that they lost to rivals Vipers SC, KCCA head coach Mike Mutebi did an overhaul of his squad cutting off a number of senior players replacing them with younger and more ambitious players.
But despite recruiting over 11 new players, Mutebi has hinted that a limited number of them will be starters with the rest mainly bringing in competition to the players that stayed on.
“I am pleased that the new players have already assimilated in the way we play and obviously by signing them we knew that they were the right players given what we play,” Mutebi said ahead of the game before adding.
“And you will find out that most of the new recruits are not going to be starter they’re just going to offer competition and when they make their case then they’ll play.”
“On a large note the players that were here last season are the one that are going to play but obviously Denis Iguma, Bright Anukani, Samson Kigozi, Juma Balinya and Brian Aheebwa those ones must start,” Mutebi added.
On Thursday, the Kasasiro Boys will be without four of their first team players in John Revita, Gift Ali, Moses Aliro and assistant captain Julius Poloto who are all out injured.
The 13-time SUPL winners, visit Bright Stars a side that collected four points off them last season and Mutebi is well aware of the threat their opponents can pose on the opening day of the new season.
“Bright Stars has always given us problems and I know they will again give us headache on Thursday but this time around we believe that we have enough in our armoury to negotiate and try to win that match,” he noted.
The two side drew 1-1 at Lugogo before Bright Stars won the second leg 2-1 in Kavumba in a match that didn’t go well between Mutebi and the fans who were calling for his immediate departure from the club.
Bright Stars will be under the guidance of Barker Mbowa who replaced Paul Kiwanuka on a three-year contract. Mbowa took charge of now relegated Proline FC for the last quarter of the 2019/2020 season.
Just like KCCA, Bright Stars were also in the market adding names like Ibrahim Tembo from Vipers SC and Jamil Kisitu Nvule from newly promoted side Kitara FC among others.
While midfielder Jamil Kalisa who left for Vipers was a notable exit, Bright Stars were able to lure defender Samson Mutyaba on a two-new-year contract.
