By Denis West

StarTimes Uganda Premier League

Mbarara City vs KCCA, Kakyeka Stadium Matches

Mike Mutebi is set to miss Mbarara City vs KCCA, January 30 KCCA vs Onduparaka, February 5 Bright Stars vs KCCA, February 9 KCCA vs Bul, February 13 Talk to any KCCA fan randomly, and they believe that if current manager Mike Mutebi was to quit, it has to be his deputy Morley Byekwaso to take over the reins.

Byekwaso played for KCCA (KCC then) from 1995 to 2000, won the 1997 league title before crossing to Villa and winning a further four league titles.

He would cut his coaching teeth in 2010 as Matia Lule’s assistant, George Nsimbe’s assistant before heading to defunct SC Victoria University (SCVU) and leading them to the Nile Basin Cup in Sudan.

This Wednesday, he will be the man in the dugout as KCCA visit Mbarara City at Kakyeka Stadium following Mutebi’s four-match suspension over match fixing remarks.

To support him on the bench through his trying moment will experienced trio of Nelson ‘Nelly’ Magera, Robert Kabuye and Badru Kaddu.

For starters, Mbarara City under the charismatic Livingstone Mbabazi and spearheaded by former KCCA forward Paul Mucureezi, is third on the table having held Vipers 1-1 at St Mary’s Kitende on Sunday.

The Ankole Lions didn’t lose against KCCA (0-0), Express (3-1) and SC Villa (2-1) in the first round. Expect it to be a complex game situation for Byekwaso especially coming at a time when the Kasasiro Boys have just been dumped out of the Uganda Cup by Tooro United and in the Caf Confederations Cup by Congo side Otoho.

Byekwaso’s brief stint as KCC back in 2012 before Nsimbe took over read; 23 matches, 13 wins, six wins and only four losses. At SCVU, when he replaced his sacked boss Alex Isabirye, he lost out the league title to KCC by just one point in the 2014 season.

Simply put, the next four matches (Mbarara City, Onduparaka, Bright Stars and Bul can act as an auditioning moment for the former silky Cranes midfielder in showing he has now grown into one of the best coaches the country can pride in.

Yet the spell on the touchline will have a huge bearing on the league title direction considering Mutebi leaves at a time when KCCA a five points ahead of second placed Vipers. Just last season, Vipers title hopes hinged on the four games Miguel Da Costa’s then deputy Edward Golola handled in his suspension.

He never lost and at the end of the victorious season, Da Costa faced the sack. Luckily for Bwekwaso, he enjoys the players’, media, boardroom and backroom staff support.

Byekwaso at a glance

* Born December 20, 1978 to John Ochama and Margaret Najjuka.

* Studied at Luzira Primary School, Kololo SS and Nagalama Islamic SS.

*Played for KCC, SC Villa and Atraco

*Won five league titles and two Uganda Cups as a player.

*Won the 2014 Cecafa Nile Basin Cup with SCVU as a coach

* He has also coached Maroons and KCC *

He is married to Grace Kyazike Sempebwa and the couple has kids