Pepsi University League defending champions Uganda Christian University (UCU) will begin their title defence this Wednesday 12th when they host Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) in Mukono.
Away from winning the title, UCU is by far the best team in the competition, registering a convincing 2-1 win over favourites St Lawrence University in the final at the StarTimes stadium, Lugogo.
“Every new campaign begins on ground level,” head coach Jimmy Kintu told Football256 before adding.
“We went back to the dashboard, made revisions on where to improve this campaign and we ready to start our quest for the second University Football League Triumph in a row.”
“Expect good exciting total football which our fans have always known us for. The way we play and win is very important as we consider our fans and how far were they entertained” he added
Vicent Adriko who played four seasons for the university together with Eric Wadribo, James Semambo and Muhamed Lubega won’t be part of UCU this campaign.
Nevertheless, positive recruitments were made to feel the void including Tanzanian David Musaaze, with striker Francis Otim and Moses Okeni among the new players.
“You can see our objective, we recruited attack minded players who are ballplayers as well, and we want to make our fans happy with fluidity from defence to attack.”
UCU players pose for a team photo before they faced St Lawrence University in the final of the UFL in December 2019 at Lugogo / UFL Image
“Though we got them from the faculty inter games here at UCU, we shall groom them into our football culture as we did to the rest as we wait for our financial year and we add in one or two key players if need”, Kintu continued.
Islamic University In Uganda (IUIU) are visiting UCU in the opening game of the season on Wednesday, February 12th, 2020, KIntu is promising not to be complacent but rather hungry for success.
“Our first target besides good exciting football is to be group leaders and proceed to the next round. IUIU is a strong team, it doesn’t just come to participate but to compete, you can’t underestimate them,” Kintu lamented.
The former UCU student, player and assistant coach who became head coach when his mentor Coach Jackson Nyiima departed from the project back in 2016, is however still puzzled about the twenty teams this campaign.
“There will be competitiveness in UFL this campaign but the group format was not right. If four teams are fighting for only one slot, then there are higher chances that good teams will miss out.”
UCU players aloft the UFL trophy after they were crowned champions of the 2019 season at StarTimes Stadium Lugogo / UFL Image
“This makes everyone lose focus on doing things the right way but only focuses on winning the group at all costs.”
“Me as a development coach, these young players will not fully express their potential as they will operate under intense pressure, making them not acquire football knowledge to push them to the next level,” Kintu said.
Seems the twenty team campaign will do more harm than good as Kintu concluded.
“If a team loses three games in a row, it will be demoralised and broken down, making them to partially or not even turn up for the final group games”
“Two teams from each group is a better and healthy criterion for players, institutes involved and the future of football” Kintu concluded.
The three opening games
Wednesday 12th: UCU vs IUIU – 3 PM
Thursday 13th: Kumi vs KIU – 2:30 PM
Friday14th: Bustema University vs UMU – 2:30 PM
