EXPRESS FC
Founded: 1957
Home: Wankulukuku Stadium
Capacity: Est. 20,202
Chairman: Kiryowa Kiwanuka
Coach: Kefa Kisala
Sponsors: Betway, Buganda Land Board, Equity Bank, Uganda Breweries
League finish last season: 13th
League Honours: 1974, 1975, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2011-12
Uganda Cup titles: 1985, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002–03, 2006, 2006-07
There is an old adage that goes that ‘No situation in life is permanent’ and
Express Football Club will attest to that.
Six months ago, the Red Eagles were staring at relegation. The hopes of maintaining a top flight status the club has had since league inception in 1968 seemed to fade.
Somehow, Alfred Leku did the unthinkable with the winner against other relegation candidates Masavu in Entebbe and with ticking permutations elsewhere, Express survived the knife on final day - May 25 - last season.
Fast forward, life is totally different for the six-time Uganda Premier League champions. On Tuesday, Express unveiled perhaps its biggest sponsorship in its history.
Club chairman Kiryowa Kiwanuka announced a new partnership with Betway Uganda worth Shs400m for the running season at Hotel Africa during arguably one of the most packed press conferences in recent times.
“It’s exciting,” Kiwanuka said in an interview with this website. “It is a marriage that comes with not only big money but also technical support,” he said.
Kiwanuka admitted it is a secret he had battled to keep three months and probably it comes at the right time for the team was placed fifth on the 16-team log heading into Match 7 of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League season.
“Doing it properly is the right time but more importantly, Express is in the right frame of mind to be in this position,” the popular lawyer stated. “We have a marriage and want to protect it so I argue the fans to support Betway in a responsible way because they are here for business as well,” he added.
Betway Uganda country manager Adellah Agaba was all over the moon at the elegant event.
“When we touch something, it has to glow,” Agaba said with Kiwanuka’s handclaps ensuing.
“We are committed to Ugandan football again by making Express great again. The Red Eagles are capable of giving much more.
“Being close followers of the game, we noticed a decline last season, did you notice it? It was a scare that showed us that there is something that can be done for this club. Betway’s strength as a sponsor comes through sports development as you know with the previous club that we worked with,” she added.
Betway’s package to Express was witnessed as first team players and coaches showcased the new kit with the gaming company’s logo at the front.
Then Betway as well takes over the naming rights of the Wankulukuku Stadium to Betway Muteesa II Wankulukuku Stadium and it will ensure improvements are made around the facility.
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Betway will cater for the player and technical team welfare, much to Kiwanuka’s delight while skill development in partnership with Forward Zone is also encrypted in this rosy marriage.
Now Express will look a totally new outfit when they line-up to face holders Vipers in a potential banana skin at Wankulukuku on Wednesday. “That’s what is called karma,” Kiwanuka said of the timing of the sponsorship launch.
Express joins the Betway family that includes reigning Uganda Cup champions Kobs Rugby Club, league runners-up Power Basketball Club, UPDF Boxing Club and the National Pool League.
This writer is a scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and, also a sports presenter with NBS Television and Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune
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