CAF - BUL FC

MATCH PREVIEW; BUL VS KCCA

Saturday 13th April 2024

Uganda Cup Quarter Finals

FUFA Technical Centre

BUL FC Vs KCCA FC

Kick-off: 3pm.

BUL FC welcome KCCA FC to the FUFA technical centre on Saturday afternoon in the Stanbic Uganda Cup quarter finals, with both sides entering the game following convincing wins almost a week ago.

The Eastern Giants who had not won in four outings beat Wakiso Giants 3-0 to get back to winning ways last Saturday.

The victory gave Abbey Kikomeko’s men a life line in the title chase and this cup competition provides a double front on which to fight for a silverware this season.

BUL made it to this stage with three super wins against Simba FC (3-0), Kyambura Rastas (1-0) and Express (4-1 on penalties).

KCCA FC reached the quarter finals thanks to wins over Admin/Bugisu United (2-0), Jinja North United (2-0) and URA FC (1-0) and is yet to concede a goal in the competition.

Both sides exited the cup at this level last season but this time one will have a chance to play in the semi finals.

BUL have already enjoyed success over KCCA this season, beating them 1-0 at FUFA technical centre in September last year before they mustered a goalless draw in February at Lugogo.

But the visitors have recorded five wins in a row from their last five matches, keeping three clean sheets.

Team News

The coach confirmed the club has a clean bill of health and has no single suspension to contend with.

His remarks;

“We played KCCA twice in the league, we won them 1-0 here and then played out a 0-0 draw at Lugogo. But we are now playing them in the Uganda Cup which is a totally different competition,” Abbey Kikomeko said.

“All I know is they’re going to come full force, wanting to qualify for the next level.”

“But we also want to qualify for the semi finals. We lost at the quarter finals last season. This time we want to perform better and if possible, we March up to the finals or even win the trophy.”

“Our target for this edition is nothing short of the trophy. Whatever competition we play in and it has a trophy, it ultimately becomes our target.”

Captain George Kasonko said;

“There are no second chances at this level of the competition. We should handle each game at a time and this moment we are focusing on the game with KCCA.”

“If we are to meet some of the goals for the club this season , we should win it.”

“So we are not just going to play KCCA, but we are looking at beating them.”

MATCH PREVIEW; BUL FC VS EXPRESS FC

Sunday 3rd March 2024

Stanbic Uganda Cup

BUL FC Vs Express

FUFA Technical Centre

Kick-off: 4pm.

BUL FC return to the Uganda Cup action at FUFA technical centre in Njeru on Sunday evening when we host ten time winners Express FC in a round of 16 showdown. It is the first home fixture for the Eastern Giants in this competition this term.

While BUL were held to a 0-0 draw by Maroons in the Uganda premier league the last time out, Alex Isabirye’s troops rejoiced in a 3-1 beating of UPDF on Friday.

The Eastern Giants will however put the stalemate behind them, and head into this Uganda Cup fixture with hopes of making it to the quarter finals, having made it here by knocking Simba (3-0) and Kyambura Rastas (1-0) out in the previous rounds.

Express made it to the last 16 after defeating MYDA 1-0 in the round of 64. Their clash at the round of 32 might have ended 1-1 against Rwenzori Lions, but they did get the job done when it mattered most, winning 8-7 on penalties.

The teams have already thrown jabs against each other this season, albeit in the UPL, with the sides drawing 1-1 in November last year at Wankulukuku where BUL had to die a little to earn a point after two defenders – Banon Tahomera and Walter Ochora were sent off in the second half of the contest.

They equally shared the previous two meetings in Uganda Cup. The first face off was in March 2019 and The Red Eagles won 1-0 in the semi final bout at Wankulukuku before the Eastern Giants revenged in 2021 at the same stage of the competition, with the same score at FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru on course to reaching the first cup final.

Team News

Coach Abby confirmed he will not have Reagan Kalyowa and Douglas Muganga who are out due to injury while Hillary Onek will miss due to accumulated yellow cards.

Express is a top flight team and I believe it will be hard game but we are going to fight tooth and nail to win the game and we storm quarter final.

We are playing our former coach who won stanbic Uganda cup with BUL but right now its me at BUL and I also want to win this same trophy with this team, says Coach Abby

MATCH PREVIEW: BUL VS URA

Tuesday October 31, 2023

Uganda Premier League

FUFA Technical Centre

BUL FC Vs URA FC

Kick-off: 4PM

The Eastern Giants welcome URA to FUFA Technical Centre on Tuesday in the Uganda premier league, match day six at 4pm (EAT).

***Hillary Onek battling for the ball with the opponent***

Our winning run was extended to five games following last week’s 2-1 away victory over sixteen time league champions – SC Villa.

It was quite the contrast for URA; they drew 1-1 against Maroons at the prisons grounds. Having got a late lead, the tax collectors were close to bagging all the three points but were denied at last when the home side equalized in added time.

BUL is currently second on the log after enjoying a strong start to the season – with five wins in as many games, beating Bright Stars, KCCA, Arua Hill, Maroons and SC Villa to count 15 points, same as leaders Kitara. Of the five victories, three have come away from home.

Our most recent encounter came in March 2023 where we lost 1-0 in Njeru.

Heading into the game, three places and six points separate the sides. URA is sixth with nine points after winning only two games.

This will be the 25th meeting between the two teams.

Team News

Striker Joel Madondo missed the SC Villa game due to injury and remains on the sidelines even against URA. The rest of the squad is available and ready for contention.

About tomorrow’s clash, head coach Abbey Kikomeko Bogere said that he expects a tough challenge from the visitors but he echoed BUL plays to win, not to lose and that our current exciting form is not a fluke nor just a one off.

“The good form we are having is not a mere happening, we have fought for it and we shall continue to fight hard to see that we maintain it. The boys are in high gear as every game we play is a final, that is why we’re still unbeaten – we don’t look at losing – we play to win,” he said.

“We won against SC Villa in our last match, a game that wasn’t easy. Now we play URA who drew in their last outing.”

“It is going to be a tough game against us though. We played and even defeated them in the super eight final but this time we are going to play competing for points and I think we are going to put in whatever it takes to get the three points given that we are at home.”

“We shall fight hard to get the points as much as they will also want them.”

***BUL FC starting 1X that won against URA in the FUFA super 8 finals***

Assistant captain Joel Mutakubwa;

“We know they are not an easy side but we are going to play under instructions and we might use the home advantage because we don’t want to lose any game at home,”

“Basically the players are in good shape and willing to give their best. But we are going to take it like any other game. We have ninety minutes to play for, and with the instructions of the coach, we shall certainly get the maximum points.”

Head to Head

Twenty four (24) matches have been played between the sides in the league since November 2011, with the duels ending in three BUL FC wins, 11 URA victories and ten draws

Last four meetings

November 20, 2021

URA 2-2 BUL FC

April 04, 2022

BUL FC 2-0 URA FC

October 14, 2022

URA 1-1 BUL FC

March 04, 2023

BUL FC 0-1 URA FC

Match facts

BUL have won all their opening five matches this season to collect 15 points, a record only matched by Kitara.

The fantastic run has stretched our unbeaten run to seven league matches, stretching back to last season.

Abbey Kikomeko’s men have scored nine (9) goals at the time; only NEC (10) and Kitara (11) have scored more.

From the past four meetings between the sides, the Eastern Giants have lost only one to URA, the 1-0 home loss in March.

BUL’s three wins off URA arrived with clean sheets, the similar scores of 1-0 in April of 2016 and February 2018, and the 2-0 victory in April 2022.

Of the ten stalemates in this fixture, six were one all draws, two were goalless; while the other two were two all stalemates.

URA has won two games, and drawn three of their five outings, and they are one of the five teams that are still unbeaten.

The tax collectors have also drawn all their three away matches this term – against; UPDF (0-0), Bright Stars (1-1) and Maroons (1-1).

All games involving the visitors this season have not had more than two goals.

Match Officials

Kasalirwe Lucky will take charge of the match from the center. Osire Juma and Kateregga Ashraf to run the lines as the first and second assistant referees in that order. Duula Joshua will serve as the fourth official, while Tomusange Ali will be the referee assessor.

Match Coverage:

The best way to enjoy every bit of this game is to come to FUFA technical center. Meanwhile you can also follow the action through our social media channels below with full text coverage during the game followed by a match report and highlights.

Twitter: @bulfc1

Facebook: Bul Football Club – Jinja

Instagram: Bulfc1

You Tube: BUL FC TV

FUFA SUPER 8: BUL BEAT SC VILLA TO REACH FINAL

FT: BUL FC 1(6)- 1(5) SC Villa

BUL FC has qualified for the FUFA Super Eight final. After a one all stalemate in regular time, The Eastern Giants won 6-5 on penalties on a Monday evening at FUFA Technical Centre.

Joel Mutakubwa marked his debut with a classy and outstanding performance; he was big in between the uprights for BUL as he scored one and saved two SC Villa’s efforts to win it all for the Eastern Giants.

The game closed out the ninety minutes of regulation play with both sides tied 1-1.

The even match-up almost continued into the spot kicks, during which Douglas Muganga missed his shot as SC Villa’s Ronald Ssekiganda and Kenneth Ssemakula saw theirs comfortably saved by Mutakubwa.

Samuel Ssekamatte was the first to plant his into the net for BUL, Benon Tahomera and Ronald Otti also converted with great composure afore to Muganga clipping his out.

Mutakubwa restored hope when he guided the ball beyond his fellow goalkeeper before Lawrence Tezikya and Ibrahim Mugulusi ensured BUL wins.

SC Villa got their goals through Umar Lutalo, Edward Masembe, Hamza Mulambuzi, Patrick Kakande and Hakim Mutebi.

The final score was 6-5

Monday’s match was BUL’s first semi final in this competition, with all the previous attempts ending prematurely.

Our goalkeeper made some big saves, including stopping Patrick Kakande’s stinging hard shot late in the second half. He had already denied Ivan Bogere and Lutalo in the opening stages of the game.

But he was beaten by former Eastern Giant Peter Onzima. The wide man picked a pass from Ivan Bogere to curl beyond his reach.

But the Jogoo’s celebrations were cut short when Ssekamatte sent Meddie Kibirige the wrong way from the penalty mark three minutes to the break after Simon Mukisa fell Reagan Kalyowa in the box.

By midway the second half, the clash became more of an end to end affair as they all looked to throw the final winning jab. Chances were created but they all struggled to finish.

Nicholas Mwere blazed a free kick over the bar, Ssekamatte then skewed another from inside the box as the game wore on.

The final will be played on 3rd September 2023 at a venue that will be communicated in the due course.

Starting XI:

Joel Mutakubwa (GK), Douglas Muganga, Ronald Otti, Walter Ochora, Nicholas Mwere, Ibrahim Kazindula (Ibrahim Mugulusi 56′), George Kasonko, Jerome Kirya (Lawrence Tezikya 72′), Martin Aprem (Joel Madondo 56′), Samuel Sekamatte, Reagan Kalyowa (Benon Tahomera 90+5′)

Unused substitutes:

Saidi Keni (GK), Alex Kitata, Vincent Zziwa, Emmanuel Obua, Shafiq Kwikiriza.

MATCH PREVIEW: BUL FC VS SC VILLA

Abbey Kikomeko Bogere will be hoping to progress to his first final as BUL FC coach when we host SC Villa in Monday’s FUFA Super Eight semi-final.

The Eastern Giants made it to the last-four stage with a 1-0 victory over Vipers SC on Thursday. Samuel Ssekamatte scored from the spot to give us a perfect start to the preseason competition.

For SC Villa, they defeated Maroons 2-1 at Wankulukuku to set up this mouth watering clash.

Should BUL defeat the Jogoos at FUFA Technical Centre in this one-off tie, it would not only ensure a place in the final, but it will also stretch our dominance over SC Villa in recent times.

It’s only one win for the visitors against the Eastern Giants in past six years, and it came recently in March, in Lira.

BUL has been commanding in duels involving the sides and has also knocked them out of the Uganda cup in the previous two consecutive seasons.

From the 28 matches across all competitions, this fixture has produced nine wins for BUL, ten for SC Villa and nine draws.

Team News

The Eastern Giants will miss right back cum winger Hillary Onek. The rest of the squad is available and ready to hit the ground running.

Head coach Abbey Kikomeko Bogere is optimistic his men will pull off another big win to storm the final.

“SC Villa is one of the teams this season that have made massive changes just like us and they are well prepared just like we are,” he said.

“We won our quarter final match against Vipers, but the one against SC Villa is going to be a very different game.”

“The game approach tomorrow is going to be different from the one we had at Vipers but all in all, we are focusing on winning.”

“SC Villa is one team which almost has the same structure like ours, their playing style is also similar to ours. But nevertheless, tomorrow we’re determined and we are going to try as much as possible to see that we get the second win at home.“

Captain George Kasonko said;

“We are playing at home but being at our own backyard doesn’t mean we have already won the game.”

“Therefore, as players, we need to double our efforts. Coaches have done their part and we are now in the right conditions to play tomorrow.”

The game will be live on FUFA TV

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 11^th.

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.”