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MATCH PREVIEW: BUL VS VIPERS

Thursday 10th August, 2023

FUFA Super Eight

BUL VS Vipers

FUFA Technical Centre

Kick-off: 4pm

BUL square off against Vipers SC in the quarter finals of the FUFA Super 8 tournament, a precursor for the new StarTimes Uganda premier league season, on Thursday (10th August) at FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru. This is the third edition of the competition.

Six other teams, who include – KCCA FC, URA, Arua Hills, Maroons, Wakiso Giants and SC Villa are also playing to complete the pack of the top eight teams from last season.

It will be BUL’s first competitive game under new coach Abbey Kikomeko Bogere. They will feature in at least two more matches of the pre-season tournament after this game.

They endured a poor run of results for the entire second half of the previous term, failing to win a single match in fourteen league games.

But a lot of things have since changed and they will look to leave a good account of themselves in this one ahead of the new campaign.

In the offseason, the Eastern Giants have already defeated big league side Jinja North United and won a couple of other friendlies with ease. They will have everyone available for this clash.

Vipers, meanwhile, have also been flawless during their preseason outings, beating Kagera Sugar, Nateete select and winning 4-0 against URA FC recently.

BUL almost beat the venoms in the teams’ last faceoff in May but Karim Watambala scored from the spot in injury time to deny them the win after Samuel Ssekamatte had put the Eastern Giants in control of the game five minutes after the hour.

This will be the 26th meeting between the sides in all competitions since 2011, with BUL winning three games, Vipers running away with fifteen and drawn seven times.

Speaking about the match, the coach said this is the time to cut Vipers’ dominance short.

“We played in the previous editions of the super eight and never went through to the semifinals. But this time we are well prepared, the boys are in good conditions and I expect them to give us the good results,” coach Abbey Kikomeko said.

“Ever since we started playing Vipers, they have been so stubborn – however this is the chance to overcome them.”

“Scoring was our main challenge last season but I think we have solved that. We have worked upon it since we started the preseason training.”

“Some strikers were brought on board, competition for the forward positions is really high and I expect goals this time around.”

George Kasonko, the team captain, said the team is buzzing and ready to deliver the goods.

“History shows we have never progressed past this stage but a lot of things have really changed and as players, we are ready for the challenge this time,” Kasonko said.

“It has been long since we started preparing ourselves. One of our goals is to win trophies and the super eight is one of them.”

“We are not looking at the previous attempts in which we failed in this competition but we are aiming at playing the final and the final starts tomorrow. Every game is going to be a final for us.”

The game will be live on FUFA TV.

FOUR EXCITING PLAYERS COMMIT FUTURE TO BUL

BUL FC teenagers – Richard Okello, Innocent Rwothomio, Julius Baraza and Swabiru Mpasa have signed their first senior contracts with the club.

Striker Innocent Rwothomio during a Juniors league action for BUL FC JT

After showing outstanding performances at the juniors’ side, the quartet were drafted into the first team where they equally impressed last season, and each has now penned a three year contract with the Eastern Giants.

Okello scored thirteen goals in eighteen matches as the junior team qualified for the national juniors’ league championship. Rwothomio bagged twelve in thirteen games. Both featured in six and five first team games respectively.

Mpasa, who plays as midfielder, played one match with the senior team.  He scored five goals in seventeen outings for the age group side, while defender Baraza made three appearances at the first team, and seventeen with the under 17 category

EDRINE OPAALA JOINS BUL

BUL Football Club can confirm the signing of Edrine Mukisa Opaala from Busoga United. The attacking midfielder has signed a two year contract with us.

A product of Jinja SS, the 19 year old arrives at the Eastern Giants with a wealth of topflight football in his legs after playing in the Uganda premier league for the past three seasons.

“Opaala is still young and has been playing well, assisting and doing so many things. We thought it was high time he joins a good team like BUL so that he can excel with his talent,” head coach Abbey Kikomeko Bogere said.

“I know his ability, I know the kind of football he plays and the kind of passes he crafts. He will actually add creativity to our midfield.”

“He is a product of Copa Coca Cola schools tournament and majority of these players have excelled, and they have gone as far as playing professional football.”

“So we thought bringing him on board at BUL will be a better achievement for him.”

After signing for the Eastern Giants, Opaala said;

“I am excited to join the BUL family. I thank the management for the opportunity given to me, I am ready to compete.”

Opaala was named the 2019 Copa Coca Cola Most Valuable Player and won the same award in the Busoga Masaza Cup when he was playing for Buzaya County in the 2019 edition.

KITATA ARRIVES

Alex Kitata has completed the transfer from Gaddafi FC to BUL.

The experienced striker joins the Eastern Giants on a two-year contract to bolster the forward line. He scored eight goals in 26 league appearances for the Soldier Boys last campaign, helping them avoid relegation to finish 11th.

On becoming a BUL player, Kitata said:

“I am thrilled to join one of the best teams in the country. My primary role is to score goals and I believe if we work together as a team, we shall score lots of goals and win more games.”

Head coach Abbey Kikomeko Bogere said:

“As much as I have an experienced forward in Ssekamatte, I wanted to add on another experienced striker, and that is Kitata. I think with the help of the young lads around, and the experience of Ssekamatte and Kitata, we shall get good results.”

“I looked at his experience and the work rate, and he knows where to put the ball.”

“He scored eight goals last season, and where he is now, there are midfielders who can feed him well. And with the playing style we are going to adopt, I think he will give us good goals and I expect much from him.”

A pacey striker and proven goal scorer, Kitata brings huge pile of experience to BUL having played for The Saints, SC Villa, Kitara, UPDF (two spells) in the Uganda Premier League. He also featured for Rwandan side Kiyovu Sports Club on a short stint.

MWERE, WELCOME TO BUL FC

BUL Football Club is pleased to announce the signing of defender Nicholas Mwere.

The 22-year-old left back joins from Busoga United and has signed a three year contract with the Eastern Giants.

Nicholas Mwere (left} has re united with coach Abbey Kikomeko

One of the highly rated young defenders in Uganda, Mwere played for JIPRA in the secondary schools competitions and Kakira Town Council in the lower divisions of Jinja district at a tender age before he moved to Busoga United in 2021 where he played for the last two seasons in the Uganda premier league.

He is bully and a rock solid young player who often frightens strikers.

 BUL FC head coach, Abbey Kikomeko Bogere, said:

“When you look at the backline of our team, we had a loophole on the left side. So, I opted for Mwere.”

“I looked at his height, and his work rate. He is a young player and a promising defender.”

“I expect him to become a better defender now that he has joined BUL.”

Nicholas Mwere said:

“I am excited to join BUL FC, the Eastern Giants.”

“BUL is a winning team, they recently won the Uganda cup and I expect to win with them more titles.”

“I will try to defend better as well as attack at the same time to help the team achieve its targets. We are going to work together and win together.”

BUL RELEASE MORE FIVE PLAYERS

BUL FC has today parted ways with five more players, including two junior team graduates.

Owen Mukisa (in red) captained BUL FC in a Uganda cup semi final against Express

Paul Ssekulima joined the Eastern Giants in January 2023 but both parties have agreed to end the contract on mutual terms.

Aggrey Madoi is another player set to leave the club. Since 2020, Madoi has been one of the vital pillars at the team, helping BUL reach the first ever Uganda cup final in 2021 before playing a key part as the Eastern Giants won the competition a year later.

Our junior team graduates – Edrine Cavan Mawerere, Herbert Onyango and Owen Mukisa have also left the club. The latter shone to fame when he became the youngest player ever to captain the Eastern Giants and also scored a 26th minute goal against Express to send BUL to the Uganda Cup final in 2021 at FUFA Technical Centre.

We highly appreciate their efforts and commitment to the club; and wish them the best in their future endeavors.

BUL COMPLETE SIGNING OF TEZIKYA

BUL FC has completed the signing of Lawrence Tezikya from Vipers SC, with the striker penning a two year contract with the Eastern Giants.

Tezikya’s career in first-team football started at Busoga United, having risen through the youth ranks at Jinja SS.

Coach Abbey Kikomeko and Lawrence Tezikya have re united at BUL

The 22 year old striker made his senior club debut in the 2018/19 season when he came on as substitute during the Uganda premier league barren draw against Maroons FC at the Mighty Arena in Jinja city. He scored five goals in eight appearances that campaign.

He then earned a move to Vipers in 2020 before he secured a loan transfer to Maroons last season.

“Tezikya is one of the strikers I have looked at. He is still young, has passion for the game and he is promising,” head coach Abbey Kikomeko said.

“He is a kind of a player who wants to prove that he can be one of the best top strikers in the country.”

“I expect so much from him and I believe he will deliver.”

“He performed well in the previous schools tournaments and he has been gradually developing and improving. So I saw that when I bring him at BUL to compete with his former teammates like Joel Madondo, the club will benefit.”

“I expect to see good goals and fantastic performances from their partnership. They have been together, they have worked together before and they know each other very well.”

Nicknamed ‘Enzo,’ Tezikya helped Jinja SS win the Copa Coca-Cola schools championship in 2017, and emerged as the competition’s top scorer in 2018 and 2019. He is also a product of the FUFA juniors league.

JOEL MADONDO IS AN EASTERN GIANT

BUL FC has completed the signing of Joel Madondo from Gaddafi FC.

The forward has signed a one year renewable contract with the Eastern Giants.

Coach Abbey Kikomeko (left) with new signing Joel Madondo (right)

Madondo arrives at BUL with a lot of experience in the Uganda premier league after featuring for Busoga United and Gaddafi where he played over two stints. He scored one goal last season.

Following extraordinally performances and excellent goal poaching prowess at Busoga United, Madondo moved to Wydad Casablanca in January 2020 but mutually left the Morocco giants seven months later to return home, before he had another short trade across the borders with Tanzania second division club Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) in January 2022.

He guided Uganda Cranes to the CECAFA senior challenge cup title in 2019 when he scored an important goal in the 3-0 win over Eritrea at Lugogo.

He is also a Copa Coca Cola winner with Jinja SS in 2017.

Welcome to BUL FC, Madondo.

BUL SIGN JOEL MUTAKUBWA

BUL Football Club is proud to announce the signing of Uganda Cranes goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa from Gaddafi FC.

Head coach Abbey Kikomeko (left) with Joel Mutakubwa alias Varma (Right)

The 29-year-old goalkeeper, who lifted the CECAFA Kagame Cup with Express FC in 2021, has signed a two year contract with the club.

For his eye catching performances at the local scene, Mutakubwa was summoned for the Uganda Cranes duty at the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) early this year in Algeria.

He has previously played for Busoga United (Kirinya Jinja SS), Kyetume, Tooro United and Express in the Uganda Premier League.

Welcome to the Eastern Giants Mutakubwa.

HILLARY ONEK EXTENDS CONTRACT WITH BUL

BUL FC is delighted to announce that Hillary Onek has signed a 3 years contract extension with the Eastern Giants which will keep him at the club until 2027.

The 21-year-old all round defender, who is a graduate of the BUL Junior Team, has enjoyed a meteoric rise at the football scene and has established himself as a key figure at the senior team since breaking into the side in 2021, helping BUL win the Uganda cup in the 2021/22 season.

He also won the Juniors league with our junior team in 2019.

Pleased to have signed a new deal, Onek expressed his happiness at extending his stay at the Eastern Giants.

” l am excited to extend my stay here,” Onek said after signing the new deal.

“I came here as a kid and BUL has made me the player I am today.”

“We have shared some fantastic moments over the past years, and I have grown so much in every sense of the word and my passion for this team has been on an upward trajectory since the day I joined.”

“I can assure you that I will commit myself to helping this club to achieve our goals and make the fans proud of this great team.”

“BUL is my home, and a home sweet home that I feel proud of being part.“

“It’s now time for the hard work to continue and I am looking forward to returning to training and the new season ahead.”