Uganda Cup Quarterfinal | Tuesday
- Police (0) 0-0 (3) Kataka
In a game where resilience outweighed reputation, FUFA Big League side, Kataka Football Club, proved that grit, heart and a bit of good fortune can take you far.
Under the cool, gentle winds fused with some fine sun of a tense quarter-final clash in the 51st Uganda Cup, the FUFA Big League side from Mbale stunned Police Football Club to book their place in the semi-finals thanks to a dramatic penalty shoot-out that ended 3-0 in their favour.
The encounter from the very first whistle was nothing short of intense. Neither side could find a breakthrough in normal time and after 90 minutes of hard-fought, end-to-end football, the score remained locked at 0-0. The added 30 minutes of extra time offered little relief for the fans or the players, as the deadlock continued, despite tempers flaring and legs tiring.
Just as the final minutes ticked away, Kataka’s Emmanuel Kulanga saw red, leaving the underdogs with just 10 men on the pitch and even more reason to dig deep but if anything, the sending off in the 118 minute only fueled their fighting spirit.
When the match headed to penalties, few could have predicted the chaos that would unfold. Police FC, the more experienced side, saw their dreams crumble in the most heartbreaking way, all three of their penalty takers, Tonny Kiwalazi, Gaddafi Kacancu, and Ben Ocen struck the ball only to be denied by the unforgiving crossbar.
It was a surreal sight, not a single shot off target, not a save from the goalkeeper, just three perfectly lined shots crashing into the bar, as if fate itself was pulling the strings.
While Police battled the woodwork, Kataka’s penalty takers Makas Aka, Muhammed Biafula and Ali Sentamu stepped up and delivered clinical finishes from 12 yards.
Calm, confident, and composed, they sent the keeper the wrong way or found the corners with precision, sealing a memorable 3-0 shoot-out victory.
It was a victory that echoed beyond the pitch. Just weeks earlier, Kataka had knocked out URA FC, another top-tier club, also through penalties at Hamz Stadium and now they’ve added Police to their list of upsets.
Kataka now finds itself in elite company, joining KCCA, Vipers and defending champions Kitara in the semi-finals. For a club from the second tier of Ugandan football, this run has been nothing short of a fairy tale.
Beyond just local bragging rights, the Uganda Cup winner earns a coveted ticket to represent the country in the CAF Confederation Cup, making this more than just a domestic honor which is a gateway to continental dreams.
With momentum on their side and belief coursing through their ranks, Kataka enters the semi-finals not just as underdogs, but as giant slayers with a point to prove.
The 51st edition of the Stanbic Uganda Cup, co-sponsored by Plascon Uganda, is not just a fight for silverware but also serves as a platform for young players to showcase their skills.
