Ssimwogerere adds attention to Uganda Cup after making quarters

It is nearly a decade since Express Football Club lifted silverware in the club football sphere of Uganda.
 
The Red Eagles won the Uganda Premier League title in 2012 and the side hasn’t come close to anymore bar the making the semifinals of the Uganda Cup two seasons ago.
 
Now with George Ssimwogerere replacing Kefa Kisala at the touchline for Express, the recent results are raising the demand to quench the thirst for a trophy.
 
Ssimwogerere still has to lift Express from tenth place where they are with 24 points from 19 matches, 20 behind leaders KCCA. Mathematically, an eighth league title is far from Express’ reach this season.


 
But having eliminated Police 4-2 via penalties following a barren stalemate at the Betway Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku on Monday, Express is eyeing something bigger.
 
“Definitely, that is my area,” Ssimwogerere said when asked about the ambitions in this knockout showpiece.
 
Express are record Uganda Cup champions with ten titles, the last coming 12 years back. Ssimwogerere’s name is firmly embedded in the club’s history as he led them to the 1993, 1995 and 1996 league titles.
 
Little wonder he boasted after goalkeeper Matthias Muwanga saved two penalties to see off Police on a tense evening.
 
“I was one of the best penalty takers in the country and I train my boys to do the same job,” Ssimwogerere remarked after Michael Birungi, Disan Galiwango, Lawrence Kigonya and Tony Odur all converted their kicks amid frenzy.


 
It is now back-to-back victories for Express under Ssimwogerere and he will want to keep the flames up when they face Maroons at Wankulukuku in the league on Thursday.
 
“I laid the strategy of the team, discipline of the players is very good at the moment. It is just a matter of the opponent organizing themselves and adjusting to our system not us switching to theirs,” the commanding coach stated.
 
Ssimwogerere will however have to sort the coordination elements in the final third and probably adhere to the bookmakers and fans’ request to have strikers Brian Umony and Odur on the pitch rather than warming the bench.
   

2018-19 UGANDA CUP

ROUND OF LAST 16 – RESULTS

Express 0-0 Police (Express won 4-1 on penalties)
Proline 2-1 Onduparaka
Kitara 0-1 Kyetume
Vipers 1-0 Kiboga Young
URA 0-2 Bright Stars
BUL 4-1 Bukedea TC
Wakiso Giants 0-0 Tooro United (Wakiso Giants won 4-2 on penalties)
Nebbi Central 1-0 Nkambi Coffee
 
This writer is a scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper, a sports presenter with Radio One FM 90 and a global broadcaster based in Kampala Uganda. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune

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