Mubiru under fire as KCCA suffer season’s worst defeat
Mubiru, who has endured a turbulent season marked by inconsistency, appeared to have turned a corner in March when KCCA put together a string of impressive performances.
Kitara players celebrate one of the goals against KCCA that saw them leapfrog the Kasasiro Boys on the Uganda Premier League table. (Courtesy photo)
Yekoyada Saaka
Journalist @New Vision
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Uganda Premier League
Kitara 4 KCCA 0
Mbale 0 Wakiso 1
Maroons 1 Express 0
BUL 1 SC Villa 0
Mbarara 0 URA 2
UPDF 0 NEC 0
KCCA FC’s humiliating 4-0 defeat to Kitara FC in the Uganda Premier League on Saturday at the Royal Park in Butema, Hoima City, has reignited pressure on head coach Abdallah Mubiru, casting doubt over his future at the club.
Mubiru, who has endured a turbulent season marked by inconsistency, appeared to have turned a corner in March when KCCA put together a string of impressive performances. That run briefly restored hope among fans and seemed to steady the ship.
However, Saturday’s drubbing — the club’s heaviest defeat of the season — has all but undone that progress. Many fans described the performance as the worst they’ve witnessed this campaign, with the team appearing disjointed and outclassed from start to finish.
KCCA entered the fixture off the back of a strong March, having scored 12 goals and conceded just once across four league games. But against an in-form and confident Kitara side, they looked a shadow of that team.
Kitara’s intent was clear from the outset. KCCA’s backline was shaky and disorganised, and it took just 20 minutes for former KCCA striker Patrick Kaddu to break the deadlock. Eighteen minutes later, Jude Ssemugabi made it 2-0, giving the hosts a firm grip on the game heading into half-time.
There was no respite after the break. Kitara maintained their dominance, with David Ndihabwe and Living Kabon adding a goal apiece to seal a resounding 4-0 victory and deepen KCCA’s woes.
In the aftermath, furious KCCA fans who had travelled to Hoima openly called for Mubiru’s resignation. The coach, visibly dejected, refused to address the media and headed straight to the dressing room.
KCCA's recent run of good form was brought to a screeching halt in Hoima. (Courtesy photo)
Analysts were not entirely shocked by the result, noting that KCCA’s recent resurgence came against struggling opponents such as Mbale Heroes and Bright Stars, both thrashed 5-0 in Lugogo. Facing a high-flying and tactically disciplined Kitara side away from home proved a far sterner test — one they failed miserably.
The result saw Kitara leapfrog KCCA into fifth place on 35 points, while Mubiru’s side slipped to sixth with 34 points. KCCA’s title drought now stretches into a sixth year, with the Uganda Cup — where they’ve reached the quarter-finals — their only remaining shot at silverware this season.
Elsewhere in the league, SC Villa’s three-game winning run ended with a 1-0 loss to BUL on Friday at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.
Title hopefuls NEC dropped crucial points in a goalless draw away to UPDF in Bombo. That result allowed Vipers SC, who edged Lugazi 1-0 last Thursday in Kitende, to extend their lead at the top to 52 points — four clear of NEC in second place.
Express FC’s struggles continued with a third consecutive defeat, falling 1-0 to Maroons in Luzira.
In the relegation scrap, Wakiso Giants and Bright Stars boosted their survival hopes with vital wins. Wakiso edged Mbale Heroes 1-0 away, while Bright Stars beat Police FC 3-1 at Kavumba Recreation Grounds.