By Denis West
That the two leading marksmen in the Uganda Premier League – Dan Sserunkuuma and Nelson Senkatuuka have scored a paltry 10 goals each in 21 matches is a matter of concern.
At this rate, with only nine games left, you would bet none will surpass the 15-goal mark at the end of the season.
Annoyingly, that would be a great reduction from Geoffrey Sserunkuuma’s 21-goal haul posted last year as he collected the top scorer’s and MVP awards. So exceptional was Sserunkuuma,now in Zambia, that he netted a further 11 goals in the Caf, Uganda Cup and Super Cup to take his tally to 32!
Collectively, his understudy Derrick Nsibambi managed over 17 goals last season whereas Muhammad Shaban came behind Sserunkuuma on the top scorer’s charts with 13.
The two KCCA forwards lead the under-performing striking partnerships in the league that has coaches and fans up in arms.
Nsibambi has only five league goals this season whereas Shaban scored six goals in three matches before he switched off.
“We bought these forwards to score goals and it is annoying that they have gone months without scoring,” KCCA manager Mike Mutebi revealed after midfielder Allan Okello’s brace rescued them against UPDF on Monday at Lugogo. He had relied on Patrick Kaddu with the aforementioned duo out injured but he looked out of sorts too.
“At the moment, we are counting on team’s collective spirit but that can’t take us through the title challenge, they need to start scoring again,” Mutebi added.
Interestingly, second placed KCCA is the highest scoring side in the league at 34 but the three strikers have contributed less than 12 of that tally!
You need to go back in the glorious goal laden days of Magid Musisi, Andrew Fimbo Mukasa and Hassan Mubiru to remember a time when scoring over 20 goals was like a norm.
A look at Villa, left winger Martin Kizza leads their goal quest with eight goals yet strikers Ayub Bogere (2 goals), Alex Kitata (1), George Ssenkaaba (2) and Davis Kasirye (0) behave like they are not to score anymore.
Vipers forward Sserunkuuma had set the bar high after his switch from Express in January where he had netted 6 goals but has suddenly run out of steam in the last four matches. His striking partners Erisa Sekisambu, Steven Mukwala, Pius Wangi and Milton Karisa are also nursing long droughts.
Jinja SSS duo of Musa Esenu (8 goals) and Fred Amaku (7) have showed shades of potential but are yet to get into double figures.
Former Police forward Hood Kaweesa left off for Zambia with seven goals in January but none of his successors Ben Ochen or Juma Balinya has managed to come close to his goal collection.
Imagine this, Express, that once boasted the scoring talent of Issa Ssekatawa, Fred Tamale, Mubiru, Mukasa and Ali Kitonsa, has only scored 18 goals in 22 matches!
Four-time league winners URA have a paltry 18 despite having what on paper looks like an impressive striking force of Herman Wasswa, Dickson Kigongo and Peter Lwasa.
Wonder no more why Mbarara City (with 11 goals), Masavu (13), Proline (17) and Soana (14) are still relegation candidates.
