Kitara ended the first round of the StarTimes Uganda premier league on a good note securing a third spot on the the sixteen team log.
This is the Royals second campaign in the top flight league and to be where they are now is such a huge improvement in the performance.
They started the 2023/24 season with a target of finishing among the top 5 teams and so far so good. Will they maintain or better thier display in the remaining half of the season? This will be their goal going forward.
As we prepare to start the second half of the league on January 27, here’s a review of how we have fared in the opening 15 matches.
Vital Kitara stats you need to know:
Number of goals scored : 28
Kitara has scored the most number of goals in the first round, five and two more than BUL and Vipers respectively. Our forwards were quite sharp and averaged 1.8 goals per match.
Goals conceded: 15
This was in contrast to our offense, the backline leaked in more goals than any other top 5 teams.
This is a concern head coach Brian Ssenyondo will have to critically address especially now that the secondary transfer window is now open.
Goals scored at home: 16
More than a half of our goals were scored at home meaning we were more efficient here than away from home.
Goals scored away: 12
Kitara was equally lethal on the road, they netted a dozen times in 8 matches. Only BUL scored one goal more than us on the road while Vipers managed just 7 goals.
Goals conceded at home: 4
The Royals backline tried to be as mean as possible at the Masindi stadium. They only allowed in four in their net.
Goals conceded away: 11
Our defence will have some work to do going into the second round, keeping clean sheets on the road will be key for Chrispas Kusiima and company in the second round.
Half with most goals: 2nd
18 goals were scored in the second half of our games while the other 12 came in the first forty five minutes.
Win/ Draw/ Loss tally:
Won -9
Draw – 2
Loss -4
Match with most goals:
Our home fixture versus Arua Hill produced the highest number of goals, we registered a 7-1 score line at the Masindi stadium.
Match with the least goals:
The barren stalemate at Kakyeka Stadium with Mbarara City and the 1-0 defeat to Maroons at Masindi Stadium are the only two games we failed to find the back of the net.
Total number of clean sheets: 4
Our goal minders Chris Kusiima and Farouk Yawe managed to keep 3 & 1 clean sheet respectively our of the fifteen games.
Red Cards: 0
Kitara completed the opening half of the league with no red card.
Penalties conceded: 1
We conceded a penalty in our 2-1 defeat to Vipers at the St Mary’s Stadium which resulted into their equalizer. Donato Okello fouled Yunus Ssentamu in the box.
Penalties won: 2
Paul Mucureezi converted our second penalty which came against Busoga United earlier this month while Denis Omedi missed converting from the spot as we lost 0-1 to Maroons in Masindi.
Player with most appearances:
Ibrahim Magandaazi was the player who played all 15 games without being substituted while Jasper Aheebwa and Maxwell Owachigiu follow in 2nd & 3rd.
Top scorers:
Jude Ssemugabi -5
Paul Mucureezi -5
Kabon Living – 4
Denis Omedi -4
Most assist:
Kabon Living – 4
Brian Ahebwa 3
Denis Omedi 2
Jude Ssemugabi 2
Jasper Aheebwa 2