Express FC were knocked out of the Africa Champions League by Sudan’s Elmeriekh.

Games

Express FC 0-1 Bul FC (Stanbic Uganda Cup)

Express 0-2 Arua Hill (UPL)

UPDF 1-0 Express (UPL)

Since then, the club under the stewardship of Wasswa Bossa have lost to Bul FC (0-1) in the Uganda Cup, fallen to new league entrants Arua Hill (0-2) and then to UPDF (0-1).

This doesn’t look better for a team that had a brilliant season and walked away with the championship title. Thanks to Covid they were handed the title without having to conclude their games. Just like the Uganda Premier League UPL did with Vipers SC the year before that.

Could it be fatigue? But there was the Covid-19 break where every club had their time to rest the tired legs and bodies. Express FC were at the CECAFA Club Championships in Tanzania which they won.

Then they were thrown straight into the Africa Champions League preliminary rounds. Fatigue could have caught up with some of his star players who have not recovered from the season ended and then the subsequent competitions.

The Express FC head coach Bossa has relied heavily on some stars who are yet to kick the season running. The club’s prolific forward Eric Kambale was the top scorer and is on the list for the league’s most best player in the anticipated Airtel FUFA player awards.

Kambale last scored for the club against El Meriekh and the goals have dried up in the last three fixtures.

Then the other player who occasionally scored for the reds Martin Kizza, too, last scored against El Meriehk and has equally gone quiet.

Mutyaba Muzamilu was bright all season but the attacking midfielder is yet to hit the ground running for the Red Eagles. Alongside Godfrey Lwesibawa, they were at the heart of Bossa’s creativity. However, Lwesibawa is yet to get on the team sheet.

With the arrival of Nicholas Kasozi in Express FC’s midfield, it appeared they were in for a good start. Express FC are not dominating games.

Mutyaba who played with Kasozi while at KCCA FC is in and out to stabilize the team’s proceedings in the midfield.

Instead they are having to call on John Byamukama and Etrude John. Joseph Akwandanaho is the other signing who showed some of what he can produce with a blistering cross for Kambale against Arua Hill.

Bossa needs to quickly get the midfield working or it will be a hard task catching up with rivals Vipers SC and KCCA FC who have started hot.

There is something amiss with the defence who have conceded in the last four games they have played including against lowly Arua Hill and UPDF.

Murshid Juuko and Enock Walusimbi formed a solid partnership for the club and were the reason they were able to clinch the title last season.

But the defence is leaking goals for fun. Bossa’s side could be heading for embarrassment if they continue like that ahead of free scoring Vipers SC forward line of Yunus Ssentamu and Caesar Manzoki and KCCA FC’s attack of Sadat Anaku and Davis Kasirye.

Juuko’s injury situation is not what the club will want to hear after the shift he put in last season. The towering defender has since lost his position in the Cranes set up.

It is only his club form that will see him return to the national scene. As it is. things are not on his side.

Bossa has found himself uncontrollable, accusing officials of denying his side opportunities by not pointing to the spot. It is a situation he will have to deal with.

The Express FC boss will not want to find himself on the wrong books by being suspended. The club board chaired by lawyer Kiryowa Kiwanuka will not listen to his excuses if things continue to go against the contract they signed with him.

As it appears, Express FC’s hope of fighting to retain the title continue to slip away as they are yet to register a point with their rivals looking well prepared and picking needed points.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdMTa_U0y9w