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PRE-MATCH: MAROONS VS BUL FC

FUFA Super 8 Tournament

Friday August 2, 2024

Maroons Vs BUL FC

St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.

Time: 5pm

***BUL FC celebrating after winning the trophy last season***

Defending champions BUL FC are set to face Maroons FC in the opening match of the FUFA Super 8 tournament tomorrow at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende. The Eastern Giants, who won the title last season, are confident of a positive start in this campaign.

BUL FC boasts a strong squad, bolstered by the signings of Bakali Magumba, Thomas Ochungo, Najib Fesali, Dickson Mataama, and Isaac Wagoina. Head Coach Abbey Bogere believes his team has what it takes to overcome Maroons.

“We face Maroons tomorrow in the FUFA Super 8, and as defending champions, we’re aware that this year’s edition is different, with a home-and-away basis and only two pitches, which negates the home advantage.”

“We’re prepared, having trained for a few weeks. The players are ready and prepared to defend the trophy. They’re eager to play with all their heart and secure three points from Maroons.”

TEAM NEWS:

Douglas Muganga remains sidelined with a knee injury, but the rest of the squad is available for selection.

Defender Benon Tahomera expressed optimism ahead of the game:

“We’re all prepared for tomorrow and ready to pick maximum points from Maroons while defending the trophy. We urge our fans to turn up in large numbers and rally behind us.”

Maroons, however, won’t be easy opponents, boasting a talented, experienced, and young squad.

MATCH COVERAGE:
The game will be broadcast live on TV, with timely updates on our social media handles, followed by a post-match report and match highlights.

OCHUNGO TRANSFER TO BUL CONFIRMED

Thomas Ochungo has today become an Eastern Giant with the left back signing a two-year contract.

***Ochungo posing with head coach Abbey Bogere***

The roving fullback joins us from Gaddafi FC, the team that brought him to the limelight.

Ochungo is one of the most promising fullbacks in the Uganda premier league with alot of potential.

He is a product of the FUFA juniors league having featured for Jinja Municipal Hippos in the first edition of the competition before his stellar performances earned him promotion to the senior side in 2017.

Ochungo first joined Gaddafi FC in 2020 when they were still in the Eastern regional league and guided them to the big league and then to the topflight, before he switched his allegiance to Busoga United in 2022.

He re-united with the Soldier boys in 2023, scoring two goals and recording one assist last season.

NAJIB FESALI SIGNS FOR BUL

Najib Fesali is a BUL FC player after completing a move from URA FC and signing a two-year contract with the Eastern Giants.

One of the most highly rated young players in the Uganda premier league, Fesali arrives to further bolster Abbey Kikomeko’s defence for the 2024/25 season.

On completing his signing, Fesali said;

“Jinja is my home. I grew up from here and grew up seeing BUL FC play, so, it was a no brainer joining the club.”

“I know the coach here and he knows me as well, and I know that he believes in me. I also know the players at BUL FC, and I think that will make things easier for me here.”

“BUL FC loves winning, I also love winning, I have the winning mentality and I can work under pressure because I have been working for teams that want to win trophies. So, this move will help me achieve my personal goals as well as those for the club.”

“So, I am going to do my duties to the best of my abilities, I will do my defensive roles well and also score goals at the other end to bring the trophy. I think this will put me in the spotlight that can help me go back to the national team.”

“I want to tell you that you’re going to see the best of me, you’re going to enjoy football with me. You’re going to have so much fun and I promise that this coming season, you’re going to see few goals conceded at BUL FC and you’re going to have so much happiness.”

Head coach Abbey Kikomeko said;

“Najib is a young player and a borne of Jinja, and is one of the players I have grown up with as a coach.”

“But I didn’t just pick him up for the sake of signing more players. I looked at his abilities and the quality he brings to the team.”

“Najib is a good young defender, he has the height, he is fast and has the commanding power and can as well score. So we looked at that and we agreed to bring him.”

Fesali is already a Uganda Cranes international with six caps having played for the national team since 2021.

He began his career at Jinja Secondary School in 2013, and was a key pillar as they won the 2017 Copa Coca-Cola Schools Championship in Masaka.

In 2020, he joined URA FC who loaned him to Gaddafi FC in 2022. He returned to URA at the start of the 2023/24 season, finishing the campaign with four goals and one assist.

He also played for Kyagwe in the 2019 edition of the Buganda Masaza Cup.

BUL SIGNS DICKSON MATAAMA

BUL FC is pleased to announce the signing of striker Dickson Matama from Jinja North FC.

The striker has signed a three-year contract with the Eastern Giants and will immediately join up with his new team mates for pre-season.

Upon completing his transfer, Mataama said;

“I think BUL FC is the team that can improve me as a player. According to the way I play, it is the team I believe can elevate my game and I believe I am going to become a monster while here.”

“I think I am in the right place that can help me grow as a player, and I promise to work very hard not to disappoint. I am a kind of a striker who likes scoring goals, and I hope to hit at least 15 goals next season.”

Head coach Abbey Kikomeko Bogere said;

“I have been following him, I have been watching him in the big league and I realised he can score. He is so fast, he is that kind of striker who can’t fail to score. If given three, four or five chances, Mataama can convert at least three of them if given the opportunity to play.”

“So if he can produce goals in a difficult competition like big league, how about in the Uganda premier league where he even has the privilege to partner with quality players? I think he will give us plenty of goals.”

“We only had Alex Kitata on the striking line last season and we struggled whenever he was injured. This time, we have opted to get a partner who can ably step in to help Kitata in case of anything and I think we are not going to face the same challenges we faced in the previous season.”

Mataama is a product of Bugembe Youth Academy. He joined lower division club Dream Killer FC in 2019 before he was captured by Bugiri De School in 2020.

In 2022, he was transferred to Jinja North while still in the Eastern regional league and guided the club to the FUFA big league where he scored 13 goals across the two seasons he featured in the second tier.

He also played for Butembe County in the Busoga Masaza Cup in 2022.

He will now begin the next chapter of his career with the Eastern Giants. Welcome to BUL FC, Ma – Taa – Ma!

WAGOINA COMPLETES TRANSFER TO BUL FC

Isaac Wagoina has finalized his move from Express to BUL FC. The forward joins the club after penning a two-year contract which keeps him at the Eastern Giants until 2026.

Wagoina is widely regarded as one of Uganda’s best strikers apparently and arrives at the club with a formidable goal scoring reputation following an impressive spell at Express last season.

The threat he causes in the final third is underlined by his 17 goal involvements, including 14 goals and three assists in 29 games he played as Express finished 12th last season.

He was also the top scorer of the 2023 FUFA Drum tournament with seven goals while playing for Busoga Province.

After sealing the move, Wagoina said;

“Thank you for welcoming me to BUL FC. It was my decision to join this club, I was not coerced.”

“I looked at all the teams that were chasing my signature and BUL was the best amongst all. Arguably, it is the biggest team in Uganda.”

“I looked at its ambitions, ability and possibility of winning great things and all the boxes were just ticking.”

“I then decided as a player that this is the right team I should play for. I believe it is the team that will improve me as a player and possibly also take me to the national team ranks.”

“Therefore, I have come here to work hard and also join forces with my fellow players to see that the team achieves its goals.”

He previously played for Iganga Young, Busoga United and Busei United before switching to Express at the start of last season.

Everyone at BUL FC welcomes Wagoina to the Club and wishes him the best of luck throughout his time here.

BUL COMPLETES SIGNING OF BAKALI MAGUMBA

BUL FC is pleased to announce the signing of Bakali Magumba from Mbarara City. The 27 year-old defender has signed a two-year contract with the Eastern Giants.

On joining BUL, Magumba said;

“It’s a dream come true for me to be here now. I have been a fan of this great club since childhood and always dreamt of playing for the team.”

“BUL is our home team and I am proud that they have given me the chance to comeback home.”

“This is the team I have always wanted to play for, it’s the team that I have been working hard to impress, and now that I have got the opportunity to put on these colors, I and my fellow players shall fight hard to achieve the team’s goals.”

Magumba comes with a wealthy of experience in the topflight having featured for Busoga United (2017-2018) and Gaddafi FC (2019 -2023) in the Uganda premier league before he was transferred to Mbarara City.

The defender also plays for Busoga Province and was named on the best eleven of the FUFA Drum in the last edition.

He began his career as a goalkeeper at Tahweed Academy before converting into a defender.

RONALD OTTI LEAVES BUL FC

Defender Ronald Otti has left the club after the expiration of his contract.

***Ronald Otti celebrates with teammates***

During his two-year tenure at BUL, Otti helped the team win the Super 8 trophy in 2023 and was very instrumental as the Eastern Giants finished second last season.

Everyone at BUL FC appreciates his contribution to the team and wishes him the very best at his new club. Thank you.

IBRAHIM KIRYA JOINS BUL FC

BUL FC is delighted to confirm the appointment of Ibrahim Kirya as an assistant coach on a two-year contract and begins his new role immediately.

BUL’s now well stocked technical team is headed by Abbey Kikomeko Bogere. Simeon Masaba and James Magala are the other two deputies Kirya will have to work with at the Eastern Giants.

**Ibrahim Kirya (right) apprehends his signature on the contract as CEO Joseph Mutaka looks on.**

Joseph Mutaka, BUL FC’s chief executive officer said on Wednesday that;

“We welcome Ibrahim Kirya to BUL FC. We have chosen him from the very many coaches out there because we believe he has vast experience that he can add onto our technical team. He has been at SC Villa, URA and many other competitive teams in the league. So, if he brings such experience to our club, we think we can compete even more.”

Ibrahim Kirya said;

“I am a borne of this area and BUL is our home team, so, I have just comeback home to train my home team. And I am here to bring the glory days of Busoga back because since 1980, the region has not had a team win the league title.”

“Together with the head coach and other members of the technical team, we shall fight to see BUL FC wins the league very soon if not next season.”

Kirya joins the Eastern Giants from SC Villa where he served as the head of scouting last season. Before that appointment, Kirya had previously worked with the Jogoos as a trainer (in 2000) and head coach (2016) before he became their assistant coach in the 2022/23 season.

He also had spells at URA FC, Masavu, Lweza FC, Tooro United, and Wakiso Giants as their head coach.

Nicknamed Uchumi, Kirya has two Buganda Masaza Cup titles – with Gomba (2020) and Bulemeezi Ssaza (2023), and he was recently named by Buwekula as their technical director for the 2024 Masaza Cup edition.

Welcome to the Eastern Giants, Uchumi!

ANTHONY MAYANJA EXTENDS STAY

Anthony Mayanja has extended his stay at BUL FC, with the midfielder signing a new one year contract that will keep him with the club until at least the end of the 2024/25 season.

The workaholic midfielder joined the Eastern Giants in July 2022 and had become an integral part of the team but sat out the whole of last season because of a niggling knee injury he sustained during BUL’s 1-0 defeat at KCCA FC in May 2023.

Mayanja is currently under rehabilitation and is expected to be fit before the start of next season.

NEW CONTRACT FOR BENON TAHOMERA

Benon Tahomera has signed a one year contract extension with BUL FC. His previous deal had expired at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

The defender made twelve appearances in all competitions last season.

Tahomera said: “Two years ago, I signed for this amazing club, and I am thrilled to be extending my stay. I have grown immensely since coming to BUL, both as a person and as a player; I now know what is needed to play at a club like this.”

“We had some success last season, but we want much more. There’s a great opportunity to create something special here, and I’m going to give everything to be part of that.”