Saturday September 10
CAF Confederations Cup (Preliminary round – first leg)
BUL FC Vs Future FC
St. Mary’s stadium
Kick off: 4PM
BUL’s Uganda cup success in early June sure felt good, but it was only the spring board of this weekend’s action. The main course is set to start this Saturday.
The Eastern Giants get their 2022-23 CAF confederations cup campaign underway in a historic contest with Egyptian side – Future at St. Mary’s stadium, both sides are debuting in this competition.
Outstanding is the least that can be said of our last season’s performance, as for the first time in our history, the team finished fourth (in the league) and further decorated the season with a Uganda cup trophy.
That is all BUL needed to dine at the continental table.
Though the results were respectable , the squad was further strengthened with key additions to match the challenge at the continent.
And their impact has already been realized. The Eastern Giants have picked up two wins from our latest four build up matches, with six goals to the good.
Therefore, there is a reason to think the team will continue to blossom and there is a reason to dream big going forward.
Future’s qualification for this competition was quite different.
The Egypt Football Federation decided to choose their CAF representatives basing on the first half of the season results because the Egyptian premier league would finish by the end of August, one month after the deadline that was set by CAF for each country to submit the names of the competing teams.
Future were fourth by the time the decision was made and that is how they came to be here despite finishing outside the usual qualification places by the end of their domestic league.
Earned their first-ever promotion to the top flight in 2021, but took Egypt’s elite football by storm, blowing away Ghazl El-Mahalla by a 5-0 scoreline to win the 2022 league cup before finishing fifth in the just concluded league.
But it’s close to three full months since the Eastern Giants last played in a competitive game with the Uganda premier league scheduled to kick off later this month.
Alex Isabirye’s side is however alert and armed, and they understand the challenge before them with Ali Maher’s men seemingly motivated to move their domestic fine showings into this clash.
Only one loss can be spotted in their last seven outings, and they have scored in each of them.
Now this promises a mouthwatering action.
Ahead of the match, assistant coach – Richard Kasule Bakabulindi and team captain Saidi Keni spoke to bulfc.co.ug and voiced their opinions about the contest.
“This is the unique opportunity we got after last season’s hard work,” coach Kasule said.
“We take this as a special time that we should utilize to show the world that we are equally doing something special in Ugandan football, and we need to show that we have also put a concrete brick on the growth of football in the country.”
“We expect to put forward something unique on the pitch tomorrow as we aim at progressing to the next level.”
“The players are ready, the technical team is very ready as well, and prepared to offer all we can to ensure BUL moves a step ahead.”
“Our fans, wherever they are, should flock to Kitende on Saturday and get all the happiness they wish for. This is something unique and it rarely happens. They should come and enjoy.”
Saidi Keni was full of confidence and dubbed the match ‘the game of our lives.’
“It being our first time to play at the continent, we feel so good because it’s a dream come true for every player here.”
“This is a game of our lives, and so much may change after it.“
“We started training early enough and we believe we have got enough preparations. Everyone is in right shape and ready for the challenge.”
“Winning this game is what we can boldly promise our fans come the day.“
Team News
Alex Isabirye has a fully fit squad at his disposal, and everyone is ready to play.
Ticket information
V.I.P – 50,000/=
ORD. – 10,000/=
Available at the gate on match day.
