I’m building a Competitive Team – Alex Isabirye

BUL FC head coach Alex Isabirye says he is a building a team that is going to compete strongly now and the seasons to come.

He made the revelations after his side’s 1-0 victory against Express FC in the semi finals of the Stanbic Uganda Cup on Thursday.

Youngster Owen Mukisa struck the all important goal of the game to set a final date with Vipers SC on Sunday.

In a game where they were regarded as underdogs, the Eastern Giants sent shock waves across the nation by beating UPL and CECAFA Kagame Cup champions Express FC to seal a place in the finals.

While speaking to the press men after the final whistle, Isabirye was delighted for the victory on the day.

“I thank God and I’m happy with coaching staff, my players who have gave in their whole. My other players were ineligible to play since they are new to the team but were behind the team,” Isabirye said.

Coming into the game, BUL had only 13 licensed players available, including four debutants from their Junior side. Infact, they had only one outfield substitute on the bench in Ambrose Kirya, who was only returning from a season long injury.

The club had released a number of senior players like Deogracious Ojok, Denis Okot, Robert Mukongotya, Musa Walangalira, Jimmy Kulaba, Vitalis Tabu, Fredrick Kigozi, Anwar Ntege among others. The new recruits were ineligible to feature at this stage as FUFA only recognised 2020/21 player licenses.

However, despite all the short comings, the team put everything aside and gave their all on the pitch, something Isabirye admitted.

“We used both young and experienced players, and the young ones love playing so I told them to go and enjoy themselves. Luckily enough is that I have a good coaching staff, we laid a good strategy, we knew express could take us as as weak team in the league since they won us 4-0 at home last season and it worked.

With just two days to the finals that are slated on Sunday, Isabirye expressed his team’s readiness despite having a limited number of players.

“We are ready, since the semis are done, we have ten players i don’t know who is injured so we shall find out that. But I want to assure you that my team loves possessing the ball, that’s why we gave Owen Mukisa the arm band, we want everyone to play for this team with respect, if we build in that aspect, we shall be victorious.

And If we take the trophy, I will be happy because the club hasn’t achieved that so far. It has never happened so I’m going to go back together with my team and try put up a good show on the finals.”

After acquiring as many players in the just concluded transfer window, the gaffer says they are building a competitive team and is hopeful about success ahead.

“We are building a team that is going to compete. Iam confident that the changes we are making on the team will take us far, we just need time and patience because rebuilding isn’t easy.”

It will be BUL’s first competitive final in the club’s history, a place it had never been before in 14 years of existence.
They also become the first team from the Eastern region to reach the final of this competition in 22 years.

To reach the finals, Bul registered resounding victories off Blacks Power, Kigezi Home Boys, Proline and now Express at the semi finals. In the finals slated for Sunday 26th, they will take on Vipers SC who beat Police FC in the other semi final that was played on Tuesday this week.

In the past seasons, they got eliminated by SC Villa at the semi-final stage in 2015 before falling to regional league team Mvara Boys in 2019 at the round of 32.

With this being their first final, Isabirye’s charges will be eyeing silverware as well scooping away with a cash prize of 50M that comes along with the Champions of the Uganda Cup.


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