The mid season transfer window has now closed but it allowed BUL football club to set up two permanent incoming signings, four permanent departures and corresponding outgoing loan deals.
BUL FC January transfer business
Anchor man Godfrey Akol clinched an important temporally switch to Busoga United, a side he helped gain promotion in 2016.The midfielder links up with his former boss Abby Kikomeko Bogere and will look to gain regular first-team football at Kakindu stadium until the end of the season
Dickson Niwamanya warming up for a game
Defender Herbert Onyango and winger Thomas Kabaale, as well as striker Dickson Niwamanya followed his footsteps to the same club for the rest of the season.
Forward Musa Esenu, who had scored eight goals for us in the first round, completed his permanent move to Rayon Sport of Rwanda.
Joseph Semujju in action
Joseph Semujju has also left the club, the lively winger joined Mbeya City of Tanzania as the Eastern Giants also let defender Najib Tusaba Gwaido and goalkeeper Sanon Mulabi leave.
But there were also arrivals at the club, Lawrence Kasadah signed on a short term deal from Gaddafi FC and his invaluable experience will be so vital in our defensive area. Karim Ndugwa is another popular signing at the club and he has already showcased his goal scoring prowess in most of our practice matches.
Team manager unveiling Lawrence Kasadha
The junior team’s conveyor delivered yet another exciting prospect in John Okurut. Okurut was promoted to the senior side to beef up the goal keeping department.
Out going players:
1 – Godfrey Akol – Busoga United (loan)
2 -Herbert Onyango – Busoga United (loan)
3 – Dickson Niwamanya – Busoga United (loan) 4 – Thomas Kabaale – Busoga United (loan)
BUL football club has got out of the youths football doldrums, setting off with a retreat on academy management and licensing in preparation for the Fufa Juniors League that is set to return in July of 2022.
BUL FC executive and technical members pose with instructor Bashir Mutyaba after the retreat
The club management, including members of the coaching staff and Fufa instructor – Bashir Mutyaba who also serves as the youths football project manager at the federation convened at BIDCO Uganda Limited boardroom in Jinja city on Tuesday to chat a proper youth football work plan at the club going forward.
Juniors league reforms, nurturing of juvenile players, and their management was at the center of discussion, and the Eastern Giants resolved to field different age groups in this decentralized juniors competition ranging from Under 13 to 17.
“BUL FC is looking forward to becoming a model club in the country,” chief executive officer – Joseph Mutaka said.
Club CEO Mr, Joseph Mutaka in attendance
“We are looking at promoting and nurturing our own talent because that is the baseline of the club. Therefore, we felt it wise to call upon this instructor to come and teach us on how best we can realise our objectives and goals.”
Club chairman Mr, Ronald Barente.
“By having such capacity building retreats, we feel we are empowering our human resource and teaching them exactly what should be done to achieve our goals. Indeed, we have not left these premises the same.“
BUL’s junior team won the title the last time this competition was played in 2019, and has seen more than seven players join the senior side since 2015, with youngsters such as Martin Aprem, Reagan Kalyowa, Owen Mukisa and Simon Peter Oketch establishing themselves as mainstays in Alex Isabirye’s team.
BUL football club can confirm defender – Najib Tusaba Gwaido and winger – Joseph Ssemujju have officially been released. Both players leave on a mutual consent.
Thanks for the memories Joseph
Semujju leaves after scoring 18 goals in his two years of service at the club
He found the net four times in his first season at the Eastern Giants, adding 13 last term and by this time, he had scored once this season.
Gwaido did not feature for the club in any official competition.
Thanks Najib
BUL wishes to thank all the departing players for their contribution throughout their time at the Club.
BUL football club is delighted to announce the signing of striker Karim Nddugwa.
Karim donning BUL FC jersey
The experienced forward has signed a contract that will keep him at Kyabazinga stadium until January 2023.
Ndugwa said:
“I feel good after joining BUL FC.”
“I am glad that my coach who helped me trade in Somalia has given me another opportunity to work with him again so that we can meet the objectives of this great club. The coach trusts me and I won’t let him down.”
Team manager Alex Isabirye unveiling Karim
He has played for various clubs across different countries such as AFC Leopards in Kenya and Horseed SC in Somalia.
Clubs such as Victors SC, SC Villa, Onduparaka, Mbarara City, Express, URA and Wakiso Giants are some of the teams he has featured for in Uganda.
BUL football club has automatically qualified to the round of 32 of the Stanbic Uganda cup 2021/22 season, the Fufa competitions disciplinary committee has communicated.
Team manager Alex Isabirye arriving for Bundimasoli game
The Eastern Giants were supposed to play Bundimasoli United FC in the round of 64 of the competition on January 18, 2022 at Christ The King grounds in Bundibugyo but the hosts didn’t show up for the match at the said venue.
BUL FC players being inspected outside of Christ The King play grounds
Because of missing the fixture, Bundimasoli have accordingly lost the game by forfeiture, the disciplinary panel said in a ruling sent to them and copied in to BUL FC.
Match day officials locked outside of Christ The King play grounds.
Here under is an excerpt of the ruling.
“In the circumstances, you wrote to the Competitions department on 15th January requesting for change of venue from Christ school playground to St. Mary’s Simbya.“
“We would like to notify you that, subject to your letter requesting for change of venue before a response has been issued by the Organising committee, the fixture is maintained on the same venue, time and date as was initially fixed and communicated.“
“According to the file in our possession there is no response granting permission to Bundimasoli Football club to change the venue initially fixed and communicated by theOrganising committee.“
“The letter and or communication from Bundimasoli FC is not sufficient to change the venue until the TOC expressly responds to the request allowing the change of venue.”
“There was therefore no basis for the club to change the venue from Christ school playground to St. Mary’s S.S Simbya before the TOC pronounces itself on the matter.”
“In view of the above, the consequences of missing a fixture is losing the game by forfeiture and this being a knock out format means that BUL FC automatically goes to the next round.”
BUL football club can confirm the release of Musa Esenu to Rayon sports club of Rwanda.
Musa Esenu in action
Esenu has been a key player in our team since joining us in 2019. He helped the Eastern Giants reach the first ever Uganda cup final last season, in which he also served as a makeshift goalkeeper after Sanon Mulabi withdrew because of injury.
He leaves the club after scoring eight goals in just 13 games this campaign.
Musa Esenu left celebrating a goal with teammates
In his farewell to the team, the forward said:
“BUL FC has been home and will always be. There is no any club in Uganda that gave me peace like the Eastern Giants. We went through the thick and thin but you never gave up on me. I am now going for a new adventure but BUL will always be my home.”
“I want to thank the fans and the executive of the club for standing with me. I also thank coach Alex Isabirye. He made me what I am to day, and I am here because of him. Lastly, I encourage my now former teammates to stay focused and believe in yourselves, I wish you success in the second round. You will be victors.”
BUL football club wishes Esenu well as we also say a fond goodbye.
BULFC players who featured on the finals of Stanbic Uganda cup last season
BUL football club begin their Uganda cup campaign this season on Tuesday afternoon when they take on Bundimasoli United FC (a fourth division team that has never played league football) at Christ King grounds – Nyahuka in Bundibugyo at 3PM in the round of 64.
This will be the first ever meeting between the two sides and the Eastern Giants will be hoping for progression through to the next round.
Alex Isabirye’s men lost two games only in this competition last season and they have made a solid start to the 2021/22 Uganda premier league campaign as they sit fourth with 26 points after the first round.
Team manager Alex Isabirye during training
But the same can not be said of the Buyo boys, the club registered for the yet to kick off 2021/22 fourth division league of Bundibugyo district with out going through the fifth division.
However, they have played a series of friendlies and tournaments including the district challenge cup where they won the trophy after beating Bundibugyo United 3-1 in the finals.
Bundimasoli – coached by Bwambale Mugume, also successfully cruised through the qualification phase of Uganda cup in Kitara region, dispatching Friends of soccer, Rwenzori Lions, Bumate and Foto on their way to the final, losing 2-0 to Busekere but qualified to the round of 64 as mere finalists.
Lower divisions teams sometimes create a hostile atmosphere whenever a team from a higher league arrives in their territories but assistant coach Daniel Kabbale said the Eastern Giants have been set and equipped to ultimately come out as winners on Tuesday in a brief with bulfc.co.ug.
“We want to prove that it was not a mistake reaching the final last season. We play Bundimasoli United, a team we know little about but it is a time to prove to them we are a super league club. We just send a message to the fans that we are in Bundibugyo for a win.”
BULFC players in training
BUL FC have laid a camp in Bundibugyo and the players said they are ready to seize the moment.
Mid fielder Pascal Ngobi during a league game
“As players, we are ready, focused and determined. The coaches have done their role to make sure we do what we are meant to do in tomorrow’s game, and we also promise that we are going to win the game,” midfielder Pascal Ngobi said.
The Eastern Giants have never actually won Uganda cup, but they made the semi finals in 2015, and last term, the club reached the finals of the competition before losing to Vipers SC at Fufa technical center
Alex Isabirye congratulates Owen Mukisa after scoring against Kigezi Home Boys
The Eastern Giants will face Bundibugyo fourth division side Bundimasoli United FC in the Stanbic Uganda Cup round of 64, the draw at FUFA house on Monday revealed.
The game will be played away in Bundibugyo between January 18-20.
Other than 2014/15 and last season, highlights point out that opponents from the lower echelons of Ugandan football have knocked out BUL from the contest, such an off-putting history team manager Alex Isabirye is conscious of and does not want his current combatants to fall victim.
He said they will use a cautious mindset in Bundibugyo as the Eastern Giants aim to deliver another statement of their ambitions this season.
Lower sides are hard to play against because of their unknown style of play, approach to the game, character and behavior. Therefore, we have to be very careful with Bundimasoli United.
They seem to be a strong club because there is no weak team that can win more than three games consecutively.
Teams from the lower tiers of football sometimes knockout bigger sides from Uganda cup and I give them more respect than ones in the topflight because sometimes we lack knowledge about their players. Bundimasoli may not be an easy team but we are going to prepare very well because we need to win that game
Isabirye after a game at Kyabazinga stadium
BUL FC were finalists in this competition last season and Isabirye will again choose taking each game at a time this campaign.
We had a different team with different players, and our approach to the game then was also different. I don’t want to say that we are going or not going to reach the final this time.
But I can only promise that we are going to handle game per game because we are going to face different teams, and sometimes players get suspensions and injuries yet the fixture is congested.
Starting XI against Express last season
The Eastern Giants stroll in at this round by virtue of being a Uganda premier league club where as the Buyo boys meandered through the qualification course of this 48th edition, and emerged as one of the four teams to represent Kitara region.
BUL football club picked up a hard-fought point against Vipers SC in a close encounter at St. Mary’s stadium.
Simon Peter Oketch came off the bench to cancel out Walter Ochora’s 47th minute own goal in the 1-1 draw on Saturday.
The result sees the Eastern Giants end the first round in 4th with 26 points, 5 behind leaders KCCA who still have a game in hand.
Simon celebrating the late equaliser with team mates
Richard Ayiko put in an important block when Paul Willa tried a dangerous low cross in the opening moments of the game before he and Umar Mukobe were later cautioned for foul play on Milton Karisa and Aziz Kayondo respectively.
Saidi Keni then spread his body wide enough to deny Yunus Sentamu in a one on one situation following Cesar Manzoki’s quick counter attack ahead of Karim Watambala’s yellow card on the stroke of halftime for a poor advance on Mukobe.
The hosts were the first to score, taking the lead just two minutes after the interval when Ochora knocked Karisa’s ball underneath his goalkeeper.
BUL however remained on the front foot and our most important moment finally docked on the third minute of added time after the regular 90 as Allan Kayiwa errored to allow Oketch to equalize. Our first fixture of the second round will be against the same opponent at Kyabazinga stadium on February 09.
BUL FC Starting XI:
BUL FC starting line up against Vipers
Saidi Keni, Hillary Onek, Richard Ayiko, Walter Ochora, George Kasonko, Pascal Ngobi (Martin Aprem 58′), Ibrahim Kazindula (Simon Peter Oketch 71′), Umar Mukobe, Reagan Kalyowa, Musa Esenu, Ibrahim Nsimbe (Richard Wandyaka 62′)
Unused Substitutes:
Emmanuel Kalyowa, Fredson Gwoto, Ibrahim Mugulusi, Dickson Niwamanya.
After a frustrating outing against Wakiso Giants last Tuesday, BUL football club will aim to defy history at St. Mary’s stadium on Saturday afternoon.
BUL will seek to avoid a successive loss this season against another wounded side – Vipers SC who they have won only twice in 20 meetings.
The action will unfold from the horrid St. Mary’s stadium where the Eastern Giants have never won from but Alex Isabirye’s men have shown their ability to be competitive this campaign, picking up seven victories, four draws and three losses in their 14 games played so far to sit 4th on the table with 25 points.
BULFC players listening to instructions from Coach Dan in training.
In their last fixture they lost 4-3 to the purple sharks, but they have picked up three victories in their last six matches and also thrashed Arua Hill SC 4-0 ten days ago.
For the venoms, Roberto Oliveira will also be hoping his side can bounce back from a disappointing trip to Arua Hill SC last time out.
But putting the 1-0 defeat to the Leopards aside, the hosts have also been full of life in the Uganda premier league this season, proving to be real title challengers, sitting in second place, just two points behind leaders KCCA FC.
They have won nine, drawn and lost two games separately to collect 29 points from their 13 games.
Meanwhile victory for BUL FC will see the points gap from the top reduced to three in case results don’t go KCCA’s way in their face off with URA.
Saturday’s clash will be the 21 match between the Eastern Giants and Vipers SC since 2011.
Team News
What they said
Coach Kasule Richard
We are expecting a tough battle with Vipers tomorrow but we have prepared very well, we lost points against Wakiso Giants but now its time to recover the lost points. Our team is ok we have no injuries, we have only one suspended player that is Douglas Muganga but still we have his replacement and we are good to go.
Coach Kasule Richard arriving for a game
Last time out
January 04, 2022
Wakiso Giants 4-3 BUL FC
The Eastern Giants were edged in a seven goal thriller that saw three penalties at Kabaka Kyabagu stadium. Ibrahim Kazindula struck a brace while Ibrahim Nsimbe also scored.
Moses Aliro found the net twice, Tom Masiko as well as Ivan Bogere scored for the home side.
Kazindula threw us in the lead in the 17th minute with a scotching free kick but Aliro equalised for the hosts nineteen minutes later. Bogere scored a penalty to give the purple sharks a 2-1 lead into the break.
But BUL levelled the game through Nsimbe four minutes off the hour and regained the lead on the 75th minute after Kazindula beat Emmanuel Emukule from the spot.
Aliro restored parity for the hosts and then Masiko won it for them later on from 12 yards.
Head to head
20 games have been played between the two teams since 2011, with BUL FC winning two and Vipers SC 13. Five games have ended in a draw.
Previous meeting
Our last encounter with Vipers SC came in the Uganda cup final, with our depleted side losing to them 8-1 at Fufa Technical Center in September last year.
Livingstone Mulondo put Vipers in front as early as the third minute. Yunus Sentamu doubled their lead in the 26th minute before Ceaser Manzoki made it three with just 36 minutes off the clock.
Manzoki swept home two minutes later as the scoreboard read 4-0 for Roberto Oliveira’s men at halftime.
Sentamu scored after the recess before he completed his hat trick on the 54th minute. Milton Karisa also joined the scoring party for Vipers’ 7th goal and then Sentamu struck their 8th with 23 minutes left to play.
Substitute Hamis Tibita scored for us the consolation goal in the 73rd minute as we lost our first ever Uganda cup final.
Last four encounters
October 22, 2019
Vipers SC 2-1 BUL FC
February 09, 2020
BUL FC 2-3 Vipers SC
February 23, 2021
Vipers SC 1-0 BUL FC
September 26, 2021
(Uganda cup final)
Vipers SC 8-1 BUL FC
Match Facts
BUL FC have lost just once in our last six games, winning three times and drawing twice.
Isabirye’s men have gathered 11 points on the road as a result of three victories, two draws and losses alike from our seven trips.
The seven trips have seen a return of 14 goals, while 12 were conceded.
This fixture has produced a total of 44 goals and BUL FC has contributed 12 since 2011.
It’s six years since the Eastern Giants last won away to Vipers SC. Yunus Sibira’s last gasp header was the decider in our 1-0 win at Buikwe play ground in April 2016.
The first meeting between these sides ended in a two all draw at Kakindu stadium in November 2011, and it is the only time the match involving these two teams ended all square with at least a goal scored.
Five stalemates have been registered between the two teams, but four were goalless.
Vipers SC have recorded thirteen victories from this tie with eight coming at home.
Oliveira’s men have lost and drawn one each in their last seven games.
They have collected 13 points from a possible 18 after winning four, drawing and losing one respectively from their six home games this term.
The venoms have also scored 16 goals and conceded only 6 across those games.
Match Coverage
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