Many teams contended and couldn’t keep up with the best so they dropped, the best 2 stayed, they now have 90 minutes of battle, a single spot to claim, and almost everything else to play for as as the FUFA Big League promotional play off final has eventually come, and the last two teams have earned themselves the meritorious opportunity to exhibit their indomitable dominance to retain the bragging rights.

Western giants Kitara FC will square off with Mbale based side Kiboga Young/Mbale Heroes in the FUFA Big League promotional slated for today at the FUFA Technical Center, Njeru in the scorching sun of mid day.

The much anticipated match will unfortunately be played behind closed doors, to the fans disappointment. The game will however be aired live on Sanyuka TV and, streamed live online on Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) facebook page.

Only one will emerge victorious to dine at the table of men this season, and another will only go home with mixed reactions, glad that they heroically tried, and regretfully sad that they didn’t ultimately make it to Uganda’s most prestigious league, the StarTimes Uganda Premier League.

Kitara will battle Kiboga Young for the only single spot there’s left to fill in the Uganda’s Top League, The UPL. Army side, Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) FC and Malaba Youth Development Association (MYDA) FC outrightly secured the other 2 slots having respectively finished above every other team in their groups.

Kiboga Young, having pulled off an enormous display coming from a goal down to grab a well deserved win against University side Ndejje in the semi finals will now have to double their efforts, as they infront of them face an even longer hurdle to overcome against a more organized Fort Portal based Kitara side who only missed out on last year’s qualifications on penalties to another Western Giant, Mbarara City FC.

Kiboga Young/Mbale Heroes supplemented a spirited fight with heroic instinct, struggling from a goal down to thrillingly thrive past Ndejje University, scoring 3 goals in the second half of the game, securing their place in the finals of the play offs that are for Wednesday, 21st October 2020.

Kiboga Young head coach, Richard Makumbi or “The Promotional Specialist” as he has been christened after guiding upto 10 teams now to the UPL has already signed, a has a standing contract with another Big League side Nyamityobira FC, and is seemingly only here at the finals with Kiboga Young today to exhibit his speciality, to lead the Mbale based side to the National first division of football competition.

“We played our hearts out like soldiers. I thank the players. We shall fight until when promoted,” Makumbi stated.

Records commendably regard Makumbi’s experience in as far as promoting clubs to the top tier league exceptional. He has repeatedly done so both in Uganda and Kenya, stretching back as far back as 1995 when he guided SCOUL to the Uganda Premier League.

He then saw Iganga Town Council (1996), Mukono Lions (1997), Buikwe Red Stars (2004), Fire Masters (2005), Bunamwaya (now Vipers) in 2006, Bidco (BUL) in 2011, Utoda, Soana, Mbarara City (2016) and lately Kenya’s Western Stima in 2018.

Kitara FC, who secured the first spot in today’s final only sleakly slided past Kataka FC, following a 7-6 post-match penalty victory after a goal-less score in 90 minutes.

Kitara, who are also notably last year’s finalists squeezed past Kataka to keep their long sought dream alive, thanks to their custodian.

In the tense shoot out, Kitara goalkeeper Jamil Kiyimba was the hero, saving two penalties.

Kitara head coach Mark Twinamatisko after qualification hailed the character of his charges and strongly asserted that that going into the finals was only a job half done, suggesting that he’s only coming to the final today to complete the job he started.

Kiboga Young tactician, Richard Makumbi

Kiboga Young/Mbale Heroes Probable XI;

1. Makumba Stephen (18)
2. Julius Kizito (2)
3. Godwin Kitagenda (12)
4. Pascal Irasa (5)
5. Beimos Opio (27)
6. Solomon Ewol (23)
7. Brian Olega (11)
8. Jamaldine Buchochera (24)
9. Godfrey Otika (30)
10. Sula Wambede (10)
11. Yahaya Luuti (15)

Subs: Luka Okori (13), Alex Kapyo (6), Peter Otai (3), Edmond Wamboka (7), Ibrahim Gidudu (8)

Head coach: Richard Makumbi

Assistant coach: Muhammad Wasswa

Kitara head coach, Mark Twinamatsiko

Kitara FC Probable XI;

1. Jamil Kiyemba (01)
2. Maxwel Owachgiu (02)
3. Musa Docca (22)
4. Samuel Adibo (03)
5. Yasin Mubiru (06)
6. Jamil Kisitu Nvule (04)
7. Vicent Kasoki (07)
8. Brian Mululi Mayanja (08)
9. George Senkaba (09)
10. Daniel Patrick Ekoyu (13)
11. Patrick Mugume (23)

Subs: Ivan Akera (29), Benon Mike Baguku (10), Phillip Ssempira (15), Denis Monday (17), Pius Mbidde (19), Peter Lumoro (21)

Head Coach: Mark Twinamatisko

Assistant coach: Lawrence Bakilanze

By Baron Kironde