Fred Kaweesi
1 December 2008
analysis
Kampala — LAST season ended with all the drama focused at the bottom. However, this season's statistics suggest the emphasis will turn to the top, where the destiny of the title seems unpredictable.
AT the end of KCC FC's final first round match against Nalubaale last week, club boss George Nsimbe accelerated off the bench towards his 11 players onto the Nakivubo ground.The calm-natured manager could then be seen belting out 'wonderful! wonderful! wonderful!' to each player as loudly as anyone else.
And after their opponents (Nalubaale) had drifted away, Nsimbe and the entire KCC team assembled in prayer before enjoying their own ovation from the fans.
As they stood, hands high above their heads in acknowledgment, it was a sign that they had finally eaten themselves in the hearts of so many souls, SC Villa fans inclusive, who had thrown their weight behind Nalubaale before being undone in extraordinary fashion.
Their 3-2 win vindicated KCC's magnificent first round, one in which their all-round strength distinguished them from their closest title challengers.
Army side Simba battled, leading the table for several weeks in the first round, title pretenders Nalubaale, URA FC, Bunamwaya all promised, sixteen-time league champions Villa swept close, but it was KCC that delivered.
The $5m (sh8.35bn) GTV-sponsorship deal has engineered stiff competition since its inception last season, a six-team race for this season's championship -the best possible set-up domestic football would have ever asked for. Last season ended with all the drama focused on the relegation battle.
However, this season's first round statistics suggest the emphasis will turn to the top, where the destiny of the title already appears very unpredictable. It is interesting to note that just six points separate sixth-placed Nalubaale from table leaders KCC.
With the first round curtains closing on Sunday, it is probably the right time to carry out a mid-term appraisal of how Simba lost top spot to KCC, and which manager or players have outclassed the rest.
How did KCC FC move top?
The yellow submarine fell back on old strengths to defy the odds that ranged from just the normal organisation. Discipline and work ethic were top of the agenda at the expense of individual flair.
Nsimbe raised the bar as regards discipline last month when he suspended in-form midfielder Patrick Ssenfuka following a training ground brawl with teammate Ronald Kamoga. Ssenfuka maliciously tackled Kamoga and was suspended. It set standards that the rest followed ardently.
For two seasons now, Nsimbe has worked with or been in a position to know too well the strengths and weaknesses of the players at the club.
Team performances are based on several factors, not least among them is the fear of or respect for the coach, that, if the coach does not have the backing of the club, he loses his authority in the dressing room.
At almost every football club, no matter how successful, there are players who criticise the coach, whether in public or private. Not at KCC! Not one player expressed any doubts or resentment towards the coach in the last few weeks despite consecutive defeats to Simba, Bunamwaya, Kinyara and the unprecedented reports that often linked current Simba boss Sam Ssimbwa for the coaching seat at the club.
He passed the test with distinction and concentrated on the tasks at hand.
Opponents often encountered KCC with the same optimism with which Formula One drivers used to look at the exhaust pipe of Michael Schumacher's Ferrari.
From the start, KCC players pitched in as well as they could particularly in their season opening 2-1 win over SC Villa, made themselves as much of a team as possible, kept in touching distance with new table leaders Simba by getting results from even average performances -specifically in the games against Mbarara and Kakira (away) and Express FC at home.
Their march to a first league title in 10 years last season owed much to the attacking prowess of Brian Umony and Robert Ssentongo with pundits even suggesting that the league champions would prove 'invincible' this season if the pair replicate the attacking chemistry that helped them to a combined 32 goals last season.
Sadly, the pair has led the lines with restricted success in the first round. But other than re-adjusting from the 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3, with Anthony Bongole being shipped into a three-man attack, the club's attacking troubles were to a reasonable also resolved by the imposing presence of Jeremiah Ssebuyiira.
The former SC Villa midfielder, the best pre-season buy after Simba's Isaac Isinde, has helped KCC demonstrate their powers of recovery in challenging times.
It is the kind of resourceful precision Ssebuyiira brought to the club that has been so absent from a host of other league sides and KCC, the times he has been sidelined by injury.
Best pre-season buy so far
Isaac Isinde (Simba)
Jeremiah Ssebuyiira is savouring a spectacular renaissance.
The roller-coaster of emotions that marked his turbulent times at Villa are over. Now he is enjoying the ride. He is smiling again, certain of his place in the team and becoming increasingly popular among the yellow faithful. Rewind the tape four months, though, and it was a different script.
But Isinde has scripted far superior progress at Simba and there is no doubting Simba have been rock-solid with him in there.
The army club spent just sh2m top secure the youngster from Iganga and have reaped far more than they sowed.
His aggression has been complemented by Hassan Mukibi's neatness. As a unit, they have been more coherent and settled.
However, Simba will need a couple of arrivals in the mid-season if they are to sustain their title chase into the second round.
The Bombo-based club has such a wealth of talent but it was unreasonable to assume their thin squad would continue to make the difference through their 17 first round games. The youngsters at the club have burnt out and their body language in the last few games has told.
Surprise package
Simba
That said though, they ought to be credited for their impressive start.
Simba's transformation from relegation strugglers last season to title contenders this season has been nothing short of incredible.
In modern football, there is a school of thought that says despite all the money, and whatever big signings, the first rule of any club wanting to be the best is to believe you can improve. Simba's success is testimony to that. The army side has acquired some poise compared to their earlier chaotic seasons when they seemed to shoot themselves in both feet on a weekly basis.
Best coach so far
Sam Ssimbwa
Whatever judgment is passed of Simba's impressive start, how can the story pass without the recognition of Sam Ssimbwa's contributions to the club?
Ssimbwa has kept his charges in line without tinkering unnecessarily.
He has handled all the team's preparations in the run up to matches with a sense of humour and has ensured an extra spring in the step of his players.
Ssimbwa's striking presence at Simba is a dramatic turnaround for a man, for whom just last year; the world of coaching seemed the most unpleasant profession.
Best player
Emma Okwi
SC Villa forward Emma Okwi claims this.
Two seasons ago, much was said of how SC Villa would struggle following the departure of Oscar Kadenge.
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