If anything could raise the profile of the people of Buikwe in Mukono district, the hiring of Dorian Marin as coach of Nalubaale FC just did.

While nobody cared about Nalubaale, it's the darling of Buikwe people. Club owner Steven Njubi is always among the many people that pack the Buikwe Stadium whenever Nalubaale is playing. It's on the back of that they forced Coach George Ssimwogerere out of their team, despite winning them promotion this season. Their reasons - the team was losing yet they expected it to be vying for honours.

James Magala took over the reins acting as a stopgap coach until Marin arrived. The Romanian's arrival ignited frenzy. There was a buzz at Nalubaale's training sessions.

The fans were excited and came in droves to watch Marin's first assignment against URA at Namboole on January 20. Fans left distraught after losing 2-1 despite taking the lead through a Jamil Kasiita free-kick.

Nalubaale's start to the tie was replica to a starved hyena on the loose, as the players attacked insatiably thus overwhelming URA. But Marin was instead in prayer mood: he made the sign of the cross three times before storming off his bench to scream out instructions.

It wasn't long before Marin started wielding the axe. He began by dropping the skipper, Dennis Kyazze who manned the central defence jealously. Goalie Morgan Ojok was dropped for the KCC game because he is too passive. Marin then started shifting players from their usual positions: Felix Temi (striker to winger) and Ahmed Kiiza (striker to midfielder).

It's clear that Marin prefers to field players who're comfortable on the ball. Muhammed Byansi, an expressive midfielder, is Marin's darling. He now sports the captain's armband.

But Marin's moves haven't yielded dividends. Little wonder he has left humbled. Against KCC he was forced to introduce Ojok after Mansur Bukenya was shaky in goal.

The six goals Nalubaale shipped against KCC marked a new low for Marin. But the Romanian is still working up frenzy. Fans say he reminds them of the Serbian duo of Dragan Popadic (Express 1996-97) and Milutin Sredojevic Micho (Villa 2002-2004).

Like the duo, Marin isn't afraid to substitute in the first twenty minutes as he did pulling off David Kiwanuka against KCC. Popadic used to do this. He wears tight pants and polo shirts like Micho. Nalubaale's left winger Badru Kakembo told The Weekly Observer that the coach is good tactically but they've to learn fast.

Maybe the fans will have to be patient, as Marin is towards his unbelieving players considering that after their team's mauling, they were chanting: Omuzungu agende (The white man should go).

There's a big likelihood that he'll clash with the press. He was against photographers who sought to photograph him on Saturday, as he gestured them away. He however told The Weekly Observer that he's to rebuild the team. "Some of the players in the team aren't fit for fifth division in Europe," Marin exclaimed.

It remains to be seen what impact Marin will have on Nalubaale.