With 20 days left until Ssingo’s first game of the season, a trip to Kabula on June 21st, the Mityana-based County team has unveiled a 30-man squad.
The announcement has given a massive boost of confidence to team chairman Ronald Ssekajja and head coach Emmy Kisaakye and fans.
The newly unveiled squad consists of 9 players retained from last year’s team that finished as runners-up, alongside 16 new signings for the main squad and 5 players on the reserve list.
“We are done with assembling the team,” Team Chairman Ssekajja stated. “We have been conducting our training camp outside Mityana with only the incoming players. The players retained from last year’s squad joined us yesterday.”
He added: “I believe we have built a very strong team. Most of the players we didn’t retain moved up to top-tier leagues and became ineligible to play [in the Masaza Cup]. However, we have kept key players from last season, and the new recruits are excellent because they play great football.”
Head coach Emmy Kisaakye echoed the chairman’s confidence, noting: “I am ready to go because the management has given me all the players that my coaching staff and I requested.”
On the unveiling day, Ssingo suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to a ten-man Kyaggwe side. Calvin Peter Emayu scored a first-half screamer that beat Ssingo’s new goalkeeper, Sulaiman Ssali. Emayu was later sent off.
Reacting to the loss, Kisaakye said: “We played well, but we just failed to convert our opportunities. They scored from their chance, but overall, we were slightly the better team.”
Despite a shaky start, Ssingo grew into the match and finished on the front foot, creating around five clear-cut scoring opportunities. They effectively contained Kyaggwe in the second half, limiting them to very few chances.
Speaking at the event, the Ssingo County Chief, Mukwenda Godfrey Kagimu, challenged the fans to back the team financially.
“Many of our people contribute nothing but are the first to demand results,” Kagimu noted. “I believe it makes more sense when you financially invest something into the team before demanding a trophy.”
The event was also graced by the former Mukwenda, Godfrey Mbalire, who urged the team to go one step further than they did last year.
“Last season, it was really painful to watch Buwekula take the trophy right in front of us,” Mbalire said. “This time, I am tasking you to go out there and bring the trophy home to wipe away the tears of last year’s heartbreak.”
Last year, Ssingo lost 1-0 to Buwekula in the finals. This season, they are placed in the Muganzirwazza Group alongside Kabula, Butambala, Mawogola, Kooki, and Bugerere.
The Unveiled Ssingo Squad
Goalkeepers:
Sulaiman Ssali, Sadat Musasizi, Najib Alhaji
Defenders:
Derrick Kato, Jonah Katumba, Tigan Kirumira, Moses Kalule, Dickson Kamya, Victor Kazibwe, Toffa Nandigobe
Midfielders:
Moses Mukisa, Ismail Rwamitala, Samuel Muyanja, Marvin Ssenyonjo, Ephraim Muwanguzi, Arnold Namanya, Nassar Mwebe
Forwards:
Omar Mbappe, Enock Bagenda, Yusuf Ssenyondwa, Brian Katamba, Derrick Kiberu, Shakul Kapio, Mathew Luswabi, Jonah Kabuye
Reserves:
Cosma Muhoozi, Musa Kawooya, Alex Muwanga, Bernard Mubi, Derrick Kibwika
