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MARTIN KIZZA: Express’ mid-season addition that enhanced title winning chances

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SINAN RAJUB SENOGA

Some teams hit the jackpot with title defining signings. Likewise Express FC made one big recruitment in the mid-season and subsequently boosted their bid to win their first Uganda Premier League title since 2012.

At a time when the Red Eagles looked offensively incapable following the unfortunate injury of George Senkaaba, the club announced the signing of Martin Kizza from South African Second tier side Royal Eagles FC on 2nd April.

Kizza had been training with Express while waiting for clearance which finally arrived just in time for the start of the closing half of the season.

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Wasswa Bbosa received his signature with both hands given his abilities as a player and a knack of scoring crucial goals. Bbosa had previously worked with Kizza at SC Villa and nearly won the league in the 2017/18 campaign. In fact, Kizza was with no doubt SC Villa’s best player that season and scored 10 goals for the Jogoos.

Martin Kizza and Wasswa Bbosa (Photo: Express FC)

“Kizza is a very hardworking and focused player. It is a crucial time, and he is a vital player. For me, he brings speed in attack and creativity as well, so he is a good addition.”

Bbosa said during Kizza’s unveiling.

The pacey left footed winger made an instant impact with a man of the match performance on his debut as Express beat fellow title contenders URA 3-1 at Wankulukuku on April 3rd. Kizza set up both Eric Kambale and Godfrey Lwesibawa to ensure an emphatic victory for Wasswa Bbosa’s men.

Kizza in action against Police FC

In the aftermath of the league climax, Kizza’s contribution can not be overlooked having contributed 12 assists and scored four goals across all competitions.

To put those numbers into context, no player at the club provided more assists than Kizza despite the fact that the former KCCA winger played only 10 times in the league on top of the six appearances in the Stanbic Uganda Cup.

When Bbosa lost his striker Senkaaba to injury towards the end of the first round, Kambale who initially operated on a left side of attack then became the team’s lead striker while Kizza manned the left flank.

The switch elevated Kambale to the club’s go to man status and subsequently emerged as the league second top scorer with 15 goals, one behind Vipers’ Yunus Sentamu.

In the process, Kizza made 10 assists on top of scoring twice in the 10 league games he played. It would have been more if Kambale, Lwesibawa and Frank Kalanda were clinical enough.

Kizza in action against Kyetume in the Stanbic Uganda Cup (Photo: Express FC)

Kizza added urgency, directness and more creativity in Express’ attacks.

Express were announced champions of the Uganda Premier League for the seventh time in the club’s history as the season was prematurely ended due to the second wave of COVID-19 in the country.

Wasswa Bbosa’s men had 58 points, one more than URA in second place and two better than third placed Vipers.

The Red Eagles also stand a chance to win a double when the Stanbic Uganda Cup resumes at the semi final stage before the start of the next season.

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