KCCA FC’s decision to part ways with head coach Abdallah Mubiru was not a surprise considering the club’s position in the league.
According to a press release by the club, the two parties agreed mutually to part ways with immediate effect, something which coach Mubiru vehemently denied. He was reportedly sacked via a phone call.
Whatever the case, the 0-4 thumping KCCA suffered at the hands of Kitara FC last week just acted as a catalyst for his sacking. In fact, Mubiru’s sacking came at a time when the club is languishing in sixth place with just 34 points.
When Mubiru took over the reins in November, 2023, the club and fans expected him to turn the club into title winners. But having seen the club fall more than 20 points adrift of leaders Vipers, the board pulled the plug on him.
WHO IS TO BLAME FOR MISFIRING KCCA?
The finger-pointing between the club and tacticians is not new at Lugogo. Every time the club fails to perform, the board and fans always heap the blame on coaches. It is weird that a team is always good because of players and when it flops, it’s the coach who is always accused of bad tactics.
But how come Mike Mutebi was sacked yet the team was winning? I am talking about a coach who was hired in 2015 and won six major titles in four years. These include three league titles, two Uganda Cup trophies and one regional title.
Mutebi is also remembered for building a strong side and grooming the club’s top prospects, plus a strong youth set-up which acted as a feeder team to the senior side. To the surprise of many, Mutebi was sacked in March, 2021, and he was replaced by his assistant Morley Byekwaso.
Byekwaso, on his part, struggled to fit in the shoes of his former boss and failed to impress; he lost the dressing room, and fans also wanted him out. Sensing danger, Byakwaso threw in the towel in April, 2023, paving the way for Jackson Mayanja, who was hired on an interim basis.
The legendary former superstar was making his second stint as KCCA coach. He tried his best, but the club needed nothing but trophies; that’s why his contract was not renewed at the end of the season.
It was Sergio Daniel Traguil’s turn in June, 2023. The Portuguese was highly rated going by his rich CV but, unfortunately, never impressed as expected. Predictably, the club moved fast and terminated his three-year contract in just four months.
He was replaced by Jackson Kaddu Magera, a familiar face at Lugogo, who acted in an interim capacity. Magera served for a few weeks before Mubiru was scouted in November, 2023.
Mubiru had earlier been sacked in 2015. He was given a two-year contract. His first task was to save the club’s 2023/2024 season, helping it finish a respectable fifth. However, despite starting the 2024/2025 season with flying colours, the club lost its bearings and started dropping points on a regular basis.
By the time of his sacking last Thursday, KCCA was lying sixth. In all these sackings, the main denom- inator is always the board, the club’s top organ. The KCCA board currently comprises eight members who represent the institution (KCCA), the fans, and club legends.
This board is dominated by people who are green about trends in the game yet they take decisions which affect the development of the club. So, it’s high time KCCA changes its structure to ensure that competent, proven people sit on the board.
What’s more, the club should create other key positions such as football technical director and scouting chief, among others. The club’s technical director and coach would be given a free hand to handle the club’s technical matters; if that’s not done, then the club bosses should think of hiring angels for a quick fix!
CONGS UGANDA CUBS
Uganda’s qualification for the forthcoming U-17 World Cup in Qatar later in the year should not be underrated. We should be proud as a country of this milestone. This is the first time for a Ugandan football side to qualify for a global event.
