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Our fans drive us, Kayiwa
Allan Kayiwa (infront) against Express defender Isaac Mutanga . He is impressed by the impact of the home fans at Buhinga Stadium. PHOTO BY JOHN BATANUDDE
Fort portal- The man who pulled abrupt breaks on KCCA’s ride to the Stanbic Uganda Cup round of 16 believes the best thing to happen to them this season was getting what he calls a “real home.”
Allan Kayiwa levelled for Tooro late to spoil KCCA’s party after Patrick Kaddu had given the visitors a 51st minute lead at a packed Buhinga Stadium in Fort Portal on Tuesday.
The hosts were to go on and win it 3-1 in a penalty shootout but Kayiwa, who also leads Tooro’s scoring charts in the domestic league with six goals, believes most of their form at Buhinga is down to home fans.
And they were in full voice on Tuesday, urging on every move, every kick, and later taking over Fort Portal town as they escorted the team bus from the stadium to their hotel.
“They showed us the fans force,” said Kayiwa, who has played for only this club since he joined when they were still called Soana three years ago.
Soana was just renamed Tooro at the start of this season after the proprietor Smart Obed, who hails from the area, was inspired by huge numbers gracing Fufa Drum in Fort Portal.
“Maybe we would never have pulled this off against KCCA,” said Kayiwa of the deposed champions, “We all know how good they are.
Buhinga fortress
“Now we can confidently say that Buhinga is our fortress. Everyone who is coming here has second thoughts.”
Tooro have not lost a game at Buhinga since they moved there this season, and they lie 10th on the 16-team log with 20 points. They have won there four times in the league, once in normal time in Uganda Cup and drawn thrice in all competitions.
Most of the players at Tooro actually moved with coach Wasswa Bbosa from SC Villa during off-season, and majority hail from central Uganda.
Kayiwa, in his early 20s, is pleased that the home fans have warmed up to the team and believes soon a local would break in.
“We usually travel to Fort Portal two to three days before the game and that gives us time to meet the fans. They know it’s their team although no one from there is playing in so far. But soon we will have them.”
Kayiwa’s season target is to score at least 17 goals and he acknowledges that at seven overall, he is racing against time.
He joined the then Soana some three years ago from Zzana Mixed and now wants to help Tooro finish as high as possible in the league and go as far as possible in the Cup.
