CRANES and Proline FC left back Alex Kakuba has joined Portuguese second division side Sporting Clube da Covilha on a three-year contract.

Kakuba, 21, settles into SC da Covilha after various trials including at third division club Desportivo De Agueda.

He has joined another Ugandan Kizito Luwagga, who features for Leixoes Sports Club in the same league.

In fact the two players face off on Sunday when Sporting Clube da Covilha hosts Leixoes. Former Proline captain Simon Mbaziira is also on trial at the same club.

Proline Academy director Mujib Kasule said yesterday that Kakuba had joined Sp. Covilha on an understanding that the club will push him into a bigger European league and share the revenue with them.

"We are not looking any transfer fee at the moment. We waved all the fees and agreed with SC da Covilha to promote him and join a bigger European team. We will then share the venue," Kasule explained.

Unlike West African clubs, who have established entry of their players into big French and Belgium leagues, Ugandan clubs are looking at Portuguese clubs especially the lower division sides.

Kasule said that the move is part of their 10-year plan that has seen Proline Football Academy export players to the outside world.

Johnson Luyigga and Ivan Bukenya are currently on trials at clubs in Russia while Andrew Buteera has returned to join Rwandan army club APR FC.