Manager Alex Isabirye unveils goalie Hannington Ssebwalunyo in Bugembe
BUL Football Club is delighted to announce the re signing of goalkeeper Hannington Ssebwalunyo from URA FC on a one year loan deal.
The 30 year old net minder has completed his medical and will now join the rest of the squad.
“I am pleased to comeback home. This is where everything in regard to my topflight football started from.”
“I promise to do my best to add value to the club. Therefore, the technical team and the fans should expect great performances from me.”
“Home is home and there is no place that is better than home. I now feel very good, calm and happy,” Ssebwalunyo told bulfc.co.ug.
He moved to BUL FC in 2017/18 season in which he made his Uganda Premier League debut before he made a switch to Maroons FC in 2019.
Eastern Giants team manager, Alex Isabirye, commented:
“We conceded silly goals last season. Ssebwalunyo is one of the best goalkeepers in the country and I am sure his experience will help the team improve in that department.”
(L-R) Manager Alex Isabirye and forward Ibra Nsimbe during unveiling ceremony
BUL Football Club has bolstered its striking force with experienced goal hunter, Ibrahim Nsimbe from MYDA FC.
Nsimbe becomes part of us after putting pen to a two-year contract.
“It was my dream to play for a team like BUL FC and also play for coach Alex Isabirye. I now feel exceedingly honoured to have got this opportunity to play for this team,” he said after he was unveiled.
“I will put in much effort to score as many goals as I can to win matches for the Eastern Giants.”
The 26year old forward was the top scorer of Big League season 2019/20 and was a key figure for his former side during their Uganda Premier League expedition last season
Club CEO Ahmed Kongola (left) while unveiling goalkeeper Saidi Keni
BUL Football Club has acquired the services of custodian Saidi Keni from SC Villa.
The shot-stopper has signed a two-year-contract that will keep him at the Eastern Giants for at least up to 2023.
Keni, 22, said: “I am excited to join BUL FC. The club has big ambitions for now and the future and that prompted me to join the team.”
“I am ready to give in all I can so that we achieve all what is there to achieve as a team.”
“Coach Alex Isabirye is one of the best coaches in the country and I have always desired to learn from him, and I know under his tutelage, my career will not remain the same.”
We welcome Keni to the Eastern Giants
Team manager Alex Isabirye hands a ball to Keni during the unveiling ceremony
Manager Alex Isabirye reading through the contract before signing
BUL Football Club is proud to announce coach Alex Isabirye as our new team manager on a permanent deal through to at least 2023.
The coach has signed a two-year contract with us.
His backroom staff will comprise of Richard Kasule Bakabulindi, Daniel Kabale and James Magala as first, second and third assistant coach in that order.
Noah Kasule will serve as the fitness coach of the team, Kenneth Magada as the goal keeping coach while club legend Patrick Asiku Crespo will take up the chief scouting role.
Manager Alex Isabirye displays BUL FC away kit
Isabirye said, ” I am happy to sign a permanent contract with BUL FC for the second time. I was here for one season and matched away because the club and I had different ambitions then, but fortunately for this time, our objectives are the same.”
“I have come to stay now that we are reading from the same page and I will work so hard to see that this togetherness yields success.”
“I have won trophies at my previous clubs. We expect to win matches during my stay here and if we do so, trophies will come.”
The manager oversaw ten games last season after joining the team in early may on brief terms, and guided the Eastern Giants to eleventh place and a semifinals slot in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League and Stanbic Uganda Cup respectively.
In the middle: Assistant coach Richard Kasule Bakabulibdi
BUL FC management has issued maximum commitment to supporting the team.
“We have unveiled new staff that will be headed by the new team manager, Alex Isabirye and with the backroom staff he has keenly selected, we expect BUL FC to perform well unlike last season where we struggled a lot. The Management pledges total support to the team to make sure that we win something,” club chief executive officer – Ahmed Kongola said
Isabirye replaces Arthur Kyesimira and this is his second stint at the Eastern Giants after serving the club between 2015 and 2016 in a similar role.
BUL Football Club-Jinja reveals its new jerseys for the season 2021-22.
Home Kit
L-R: Ambrose Kirya, Musa Esenu and Simon Peter Oketch
The home shirt features; a V-shaped neckline, green horizontal strips and a green rim on the sleeves.
The predominantly yellow top will be accompanied by green shorts that have yellow side strips, and yellow socks.
Away kit (Image)
Musa Esenu
While playing from elsewhere, the Eastern Giants will shine in a visually stunning red shirt. It has vertical side strips and a stylish V neck edge -all yellow- adding to an eye-catching look.
Yellow shorts and red socks complete the kit.
Third Kit
Striker Musa Esenu
Our neutral uniform is all white. The design of its neck opening is similar to that of the foresaid, but the periphery of its sleeves is green.
The chronic stylish logo is still maintained while portraying all the club’s three colours (red, yellow and green) mentioned above in our uniforms.
We can confirm that we have released a host of eight players. Amongst them are two players who gallantly served us on loan last season. These are; forward Anwar Ntege and midfielder Elvis Kibbale who have returned to their respective parent clubs – URA FC and Edgars FC.
Charles Sempa, winger Robert Mukongotya and striker Deogracious Ojok also make list of those that have walked away from the club.
Experienced defenders; Dennis Okot Oola, Jimmy Kulaba and as well Musa Walangalira have also been freed.
The six leave after their contracts with the club ran down.
We thank all the aforementioned players for having served the club excellently and therefore, we wish them the best in their future endeavors.
BUL starting XI against Bright Stars in the recent past
MATCH: URA FC VS BUL FC
LEAGUE: UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE
DATE: FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2021
VENUE: ARENA OF VISIONS @4PM
BUL football club face a tough test this Friday when they face second placed URA FC at the Arena of Visions.
The Eastern Giants declined to return to winning ways in the league on Tuesday when they were held to a one all draw with Kyetume, but they still remain eight points clear off the dangerous zone.
URA defeated KCCA 2-0 on the same day and have won their last four home matches in the league.
This match will be the 20th league meeting between the two sides since 2011.
Steven Mukwala’s late brace proved the difference in last December’s reverse fixture.
Victory over the tax collectors on Friday will temporarily volley the Eastern Giants to eighth position, they currently sit 10th on the UPL table with 21 points from 17 games while the hosts rank second, tied on 39 points with league leaders Vipers SC.
Team News
Vitalis Tabu (R) carrying on opponent during Kyetume game at home
Players –Richard Wandyaka, Anwar Ntege, Robert Mukongotya and Jimmy Kulaba are fit and ready to face their former club.
The team has no fresh injury concerns apart from Ambrose Kirya who is still nursing a knee injury.
Coach’s thoughts on the game
BUL FC Technical team
“We are not on a good run in the league but our nice run is starting tomorrow against URA. We lost the first leg and they are a boggy side but Arena of Visions is a pitch that favors our style of play,” Head coach – Arthur Kyesimira said after the last training.
“BUL FC is a big brand. We have some ex URA players and we hope they will give us the impetus to win tomorrow,”
Robert Mukongotya’s remarks
“I will work so hard to see BUL FC win tomorrow’s game despite URA being my former pay master,” he said.
GOAL SCORERS
To date, The Eastern Giants have seven different net busters in all the competitions this season
Joseph Semujju – 6
Deogracious Ojok – 5
Simon Oketch – 5
Robert Mukongotya – 3
Musa Esenu – 3
Anwar Ntege – 2
Richard Wandyaka – 1
KEY STATS
BUL FC have won three, drawn one and lost four in eight away games (P8 W3 D1 L4) this season
They have picked up two points from their last two visits to the tax collectors
The Eastern Giants have two victories off URA FC since 2011, the identical 1-0 home wins in 2016 and 2018
They have earned two points from their last three league outings
URA FC have so far won five, drawn two and lost one home league game (P8 W5 D2 L1) this season
The tax collectors have won their last four home league ties
Ssemakula wins pilsner man of the match accolade on his debut game at BUL
Kenneth Semakula was handed a start by head coach Arthur Kyesimira against Kyetume on Tuesday, with the youngster putting up a man of the match performance in the Eastern Giant’s one all draw at Kyabazinga stadium.
The 19-year-old immensely talented centre-back marshaled his side’s defense so well and was a delight to watch for all the 90 minutes as he superbly put the brakes on the experienced opposing attackers.
Ssemakula (M) walks onto the field of play
Semakula won the starting spot over seniors like Jimmy Kulaba and Musa Walangalira. Despite his strong efforts, Semakula couldn’t enjoy a victory in his first game as the Slaughters cancelled out Robert Mukongotya’s second half strike with an equaliser in the 84th minute.
The gifted Uganda Hippos rearguard was signed from Busoga United at the start of the season but was not available for selection before the second round as he was on national duty with the Uganda U-20 team in Mauritania and then picked up a knock on his return to training with BUL FC.
His next club outing will be against URA FC if the coach chooses him to play on Friday April 16.
