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Will Madondo, Obuya bring Fufa Big League back to life?
Madondo played for Wydad Casablanca in Morocco last season but now will be at Gaddafi while Gaddafi Gadinho (centre) will be hoping to shine for Arua Hill. Pius Obuya will be featuring for Maroons FC. PHOTO/MONTAGE
This Fufa Big League season will pose the toughest question to the Big League’s existence, its importance, relevance, and success.
The answer is critical. Financially, this season of the Fufa Big League will be a slog. How the 16 clubs that make the league respond to this will be a test of their character.
For a while now, they have been resigned to their fate. The coronavirus pandemic will take a hit overall, and so will revenues, as fans will not be allowed to make a contribution to their teams on the pitch.
Title challengers
The emergence of fat cats Arua Hill, bankrolled by property magnate Joel Aitaa of Development Infrastructure and Edwin Ochieng of Gaddafi, could have a possible domino effect on how the league progresses.
Actually, these are new sides that could start with a bang. But it is fair to say Gaddafi have the upper hand.
How Frank Ssebaggala manages to put his qualifications to use will be crucial as he is yet to manage a team with huge ambitions like Gaddafi.
“Teamwork will spur us,” said Ssebaggala when he was unveiled in Jinja in February. “The target is one; to promote Gaddafi to the Uganda Premier League.”
The division’s most hyped side recruited massively with Cranes striker Joel Madondo and URA loanee Najib Fesali giving them reasons to be cheerful.
Since they are pitted in possibly the toughest group, Gaddafi will have to work their tails off.
Elgon Group is comprised of two newcomers in Calvary and Gaddafi, whereas Paidha, Mbale Heroes, Kataka, and Black Power played the Big League last season.
Maroons, who were relegated from the Uganda Premier League last season, look to be the real challengers.
Ndejje University have the tools to compete at the right end after an unlucky season in 2019. They were sportingly denied a place in the Premier League when UPDF were instead promoted.
Head coach Raymond Komakech has maintained most of his squad members and their mean defence will be tough to beat if nothing else.
Ndejje fell at the final hurdle after losing in the play-offs and Komakech’s side are primed for another tilt towards direct promotion.
The opposing sides have grown stale. Morale is low at Nyamityobora despite a squad overhaul and arrival of promotion king Richard Makumbi.
Newcomers Luweero have a lightweight squad which will take a lot of magic from coach Calvin Mugerwa to mould into serious contenders.
Terrazzo and Tiles could struggle to replace prolific striker Charles Bbaale, who scored 17 of their 36 goals last season.
Bbaale has since joined KJT, a Kampala Regional League team owned by Mansoor Kabuga, the manager of Gomba.
You would wonder what is still left at Proline. The 2018 Uganda Cup champions have loaned out their cream, including Ivan Bogere (Wakiso Giants), James Begisa (UPDF), Bright Anukani (KCCA) and Mustafa Mujuzi (Kyetume).
Play-off contenders
Four teams will enter the fray for a single slot via the play-offs to complete the three teams to be promoted.
Tooro United have grand plans under former Vipers coach Edward Golola and they have bolstered their squad, adding striker Dennis Ojara, who won the 2019 Copa Coca-Cola and East African titles with St Mary’s SS Kitende, Mark Nsubuga from KJT, goalkeeper Ronald Waiswa and exciting left-back Ponsiano Segonja.
Nyamityobora can make the top three from the Rwenzori Group, with a squad of talented players, but questions remaom over their morale as they appear short of a bona fide revenue source.
Makumbi has an exciting squad with the likes of Ivan Ahimbisibwe, who was the club’s top scorer last season, Muhammed Matovu and Gerald Kimuli, who has experience from Masaza Cup.
Maroons, if they miss the automatic slot, will be favourites for a place in the play-offs. Charles Ayiekoh forms a formidable partnership with Eric Ndifuna.
Skipper Sylvester Okello is aware that the fans must be frustrated as they were denied a fighting chance last season. Okello stresses that “we have done it before and we are prepared to come back.”
Without last season’s top scorer Steven Mukwala, the task will be big. But in Pius Obuya, prolific attacking midfielder Vincent Zziwa and Robert Orombi, Ayiekoh has the men to finish the job.
Hussein Mbalangu and his star-studded Arua Hills must strike the rod while it is still hot. Sabir Simba, Samari Ajobe, Mike Kawooya, Oscar Agaba, Rashid Agau, Gadinho, Paddy Muhumuza, Rajab Kakooza, Aggrey Kirya, Allan Mugalu, Dan Birikwalira, Ceasor Okhuti, Alfred Leku and Franco Oringa, among others, should help push for promotion.
But build up games have showed that the team struggles to score. In the Elgon Group, there will be little room for error.
Mbalangu said: “All the teams have chance to qualify. To be a champion, you must beat the best. So we’re ready.”
Their undoing could be that most of the players and the coach have not been prolific at this level. But the moneybags may quietly fancy their chances.
A new-look Kigezi HomeBoyz could be dark horses if Mark Twinamasiko’s magic wand clicks.
Relegation candidates
Calvary Midigo from Yumbe District look dire at this stage and are unlikely to thrive in the second tier. The team has veteran Osman Farouk Wejuli (Saviours) Norman Angufindru, Karim Abdusalam (Arua Hill), Allan Mahad (Arua SA), Halid Moses (Saviours), Sabir Andama (Onduparaka), will not be short of spirit but that will not be enough.
Black Power should find a way to cope with the Big League. For Luweero United, the priority is ensuring fans have a club to support come the end of the campaign.
If not careful, Water could end up in a similar predicament as the club’s uncertainty has weighed heavily in previous seasons.
Paidha Black Angels, who have played in the Premier League before, are expected to struggle with off the pitch issues.
Three players to watch in the Fufa Big League
1. Gaddafi Gadinho, Arua Hill: We are yet to witness the best of Gaddafi Gadinho. Since excelling at Onduparaka after excellent displays in school football at St Mary’s SS Kitende, he has been a journeyman. Last season, he quit Mbarara City in protest and passed under the nose of UPDF before settling at Arua Hill.
2. Joel Madondo, Gaddafi: It has been a roller-coaster for Joel Madondo. After impressing for the Cranes, the 22-year-old forward, swiftly sealed a move to Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca for a cool Shs183m. A contract breach forced him to return to Uganda and he is looking to revive his career from the ground up.
3. Pius Obuya, Maroons: A nimble midfielder, the 21-year-old is working his way back up the pyramid of the beautiful game after being denied a move to KCCA last season over hip and shoulder injuries he had sustained. Obuya made his debut for the U-20s aged just 16. The door is wide open for the youngster.
FUFA big league
Rwenzori group
Ndejje University Luwero
Nyamityobora Tooro
Luweero Utd Luweero
Terrazzo & Tiles Mbarara
Proline Kampala
Homeboyz Kigezi
Tooro Tooro
Water Kampala
Elgon group
Arua Hill Arua
Black Power Bukedea
Gaddafi Jinja
Mbale Heroes Mbale
Maroons Kampala
Paidha B. Angels Nebbi
Calvary Yumbe
Kataka Mbale
Opening fixtures | March 18
Calvary vs. Kataka Green Lgt
Maroons vs. Paidha Luzira
Gaddafi vs. Mbale Heroes Bugembe
Arua Hill vs. Black Power Barifa
Ndejje Univ vs. Nyamityobora Ndejje
Luweero vs. Terrazzo & Tiles TBC
Proline vs. HomeBoyz Lugogo
Tooro vs. Water TBC
