Express ended a 16 year wait for the Ugandan super League title last weekend beating Bidco 2-1 to clinch the crown.It was the perfect end to a dramatic season on and off the pitch as the Red eagles surprised everyone by somehow fending off outgoing champions URA and Bunnamwaya.
At the other end, Fire Masters were booted out after failing to honour matches while Hoima-Busia and Utoda face a season in the Big league after being relegated.
SuperSport.com takes a look at how each of the 16 clubs performed in the 2011/2012 bell Super League season.
Express (54 points)
The season started well with a good first round instigated by the trident of Bonny Baingana, Edgar Luzige (later joined Bunnamwaya) and Julius Ogwang.
The contributions of defenders Henry katongole and Bob Kasozi plus utility left-sided player Yayo Lutimba cannot be underestimated.
Lutimba scored the title-winning goals. The full-back, who also played on the wing and as a makeshift striker, and Ogwang got the goals that mattered most.
Express have something many clubs struggle to attract in stadiums – fans. Those voices surely played a big part.
The big moments
Among the results that got Express to the title include the double over Masaka, 1-0 away and 2-1 at Namboole.
A phantom goal also enabled them snatch another come-from-behind 3-2 win over Maroons as Willy Kavuma’s effort never crossed the line as per the television replays. Luck of a champion, they say.
The Red Eagles fans have played a big part, too, especially in the 2-0 win over arch rivals SC Villa which included a contender for goal of the season by Baingana.
The midfielder danced through a forest of legs to score in what proved to be a dominant first round by him.
By then, Kavuma and Edgar Luzige complemented him and the three-man attack made Express a joy to watch.
Not even Baingana’s impromptu disappearing acts to Rwanda and Luzige’s change of address to Bunnamwaya had Express fold. But Baingana was flown back for the side’s final game against Bidco.
Then there were the two points each won off fellow title contenders URA and Bunnamwaya in the home and away draws. Those played a pivotal role.
Bunnamwaya (53)
Edward Golola’s Bunnamwaya at times played some breathtaking football, a case in point the 4-1 rout of SC Villa at Nakivubo.
But failure to lift a second league title came down to results against Express, with whom they drew twice.
If Golola keeps the side intact and makes Buikwe a fortress, the depth in quality could make them favourites for next season.
URA (51)
Winning the Bell Uganda Cup proved never enough as the tax collectors intentions were well clear - they wanted a double.
Perhaps, failure to win the league title may have coach Isabirye’s bosses thinking twice on whether to keep him.
Six points lost upon the expulsion of Fire Masters, injuries in clusters, loss of form of key players and the not-so-pleasant-to-the-eye style of football conspired to deny them the title.
Midfielders Moses Feni and Saidi Kyeyune and defender Sam Ssenkoomi were the outstanding actors.
Simba (46)
Simba were never the same the moment players were told they wouldn’t be playing in the Caf Confederations Cup.
Their sweat of winning the Bell Uganda Cup last year went down the drain and coach Fred Kajoba struggled to galvanize the team.
A title charge well sung at the beginning of the season went up in smoke but they picked up the pieces to win six games on the trot, including a 1-0 victory over URA in the third last game that breathed life into the race.
Fourth place is just impressive.
SC Villa (45)
The 16-time league champions had remained with just that historic title. But most often play on the pitch never reflected it.
And SC Villa fans might never stop fighting Mike Mutebi whom they view as a ‘spy’ because of his KCC links.
But whichever way you look at it, the former Uganda Cranes coach has done a fairly decent job as Villa finished in fifth, nine points behind the champions, especially given the bleak situation before Serbian Srdjan Zivojnov threw in the towel in December.
Moses Ndawula, Isaac Kirabira and mid-season acquisition Steven Bengo stood out for the Blues.
Proline (44)
A five-match winning streak that came with coach Abdallah Mubiru in the second round briefly made Proline title hopefuls.
Mubiru replaced Mujib Kasule when the latter joined Fufa as a vice president in charge of the league.
Proline conceded just 14 times, making them the best side defensively. They also contributed three hat-tricks of the five this season with second round revelation William Wadri, Charles Tibaingana and Anthony Bongole all striking thrice in a game.
KCC (44)
Morley Byekwaso’s side lacked genuine quality in front of goal and they paid for it in several draws.
The indecisiveness to choose between goalkeepers Godfrey Wakabu and Nicholas Sebwato left both with a costly sequence of howlers.
But generally, Byekwaso did well after replacing Matia Lule in the dugout. And he should form a formidable partnership with George Nsimbe when the two take to the dugout next season.
Water (34)
An eighth place finish in Water’s first season back in the topflight is just fine for Charles Ayiekoh’s side.
With Joseph Bukenya on the pitch, there is enterprise and the reverse is true without him. And having lost Nyanzi Makumbi to Kenyan Premier League champions Tusker, they will need to recruit for next season.
Maroons (33)
Arguably playing the best football in the first round, Maroons were in free fall in the second part of the season.
The departures of striker George Abege and Martin Mpuga take away the spine of the team but Asaph Mwebaze has enough in the prisons side’s basket of talent to replace them.
Victors (33)
This season was a complete contrast to when they won two Uganda Cups late last decade.
Infighting saw them part ways with coach George Nsimbe but Sula Kato, the former SC Villa and Uganda Cranes striker, steadied the ship in the final third of the season.
Bidco (31)
Like any side that comes up, Bidco’s target was to survive relegation and they just did enough to stay up.
Under Richard Makumbi, it was always safety first before caretaker Arthur Kyesimire threw caution to the wind.
It’s refreshing to have a team from Jinja in the league 33 years after Nile won the league.
Police (31)
Jimmy Kakembo had such an impact on Police when he scored the season’s first hat-trick in the first four minutes against Utoda.
Ultimately, their season came down to the Sam Timbe replacing Angelo Lonyesi on the bench to go two months without defeat and effectively survive relegation.
Timbe is the impetus and with the right recruitment, the cops will be a force to reckon with.
Hoima-Busia (20)
The decision to allow them play in the second round after failing to meet the registration deadline was dead wrong in the first place.
A 3-2 away victory at Maroons introduced them to the competition but their eventual relegation came down to having to play too many games in a few days. The bodies had to give in.
Utoda (6)
It takes something terribly wrong for a team to go through an entire 28-game season without winning a game. Quite a feat!
A porous defence that let in 54 goals under three different coaches tells the tale.
Fire Masters (expelled)
Peter Johnson, the Managing Director Fire Masters, has disbanded the club after a scandalous campaign.
Skipping three games in succession got them expelled and each team lost the points earned against the Wakiso-based side.
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