The Buganda Masaza Cup is set for the 21st Edition as Buddu hosts Gomba at Kitovu Sports Arena in the opener on Saturday.
Buddu is the defending champion while Gomba is the record champions and the fixture carries bad and worse histories, making the game a clash of Titans.
Going into the game, defending champions are set to assemble a different team, having changed almost the entire squad, only keeping 6 members of the winning squad.
Some of the key retained players are Mike Waraga and Joseph Kayondo, who combined for 10 goals in the title-winning campaign despite Kayondo being a defender.
The winning coaching staff left for Gomba and got replaced by a group of technicians headed by Eric Kisuze who guided Kabula to unusual heights last season by reaching the quarterfinals, where he was stopped by Buddu.
In the heart of regaining winning desires, Team Manager Vincent Ziwa captured key Nicholas Junga from Kabula.
Junga is the player expected to execute the Buddu playing style, replacing Pius Ssebulime who has been taking the responsibility before rejoining Mawokota.
Ahead of the opening match, Buddu under new stewardship is expected to spring on the services of goalkeeper Marvin Ssebirungo, Joseph Kayondo, Mike Waraga and Ivan Kanda another new signing.
On the Gomba side, Coach Simon Dungu and his backroom are the Masaza Cup defending coaches but with a different team.
After a shocking campaign resulted in to stop at the group stage, Gomba took on early preparations for the 2025 season, getting the management six months before the beginning of the campaign, securing the coaching department over three months before the opening.
After drawing the baselines, Gomba recruited a very strong squad, regained Herbert Onen from Buddu, added on other players like Joseph Ssewaali from Ssingo, Michael Abura from Mawokota and they are starting the competition with high hopes to win the trophy as they seek to end a five-year span without a trophy.
In Friendlies, all the teams have been on a good note with just a draw as the lowest record, building the momentum for both sides ahead of the opening match.
Based on significant recent meetings, Gomba holds a head-to-head advantage over Buddu, having eliminated them in the most recent meeting in the semifinals of 2023 and defeated them 3-1 in the finals of 2021 for the fifth Masaza Cup final.
