With the StarTimes Uganda premier in recess to allow the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) to take place, Kitara ended their first round on a high after going seven straight matches unbeaten despite having a bad start.
Our 2024/24 season objective is to compete for the title but we struggled to replicate last season’s performance losing six of the eight first games and subsequently dropping to the relegation zone.
However, the arrival of Wasswa Bbosa in November, 2024 has seen Kitara resurge in form, they moved from the relegation zone to 7th on the log, thirteen points adrift the leaders Vipers SC.
The question remains are we still in contention for the title? How we better our performance in the remaining half of the season will be our task during this break.
Here’s a review of how we fared in the opening 15 matches of the first round.
Number of goals scored : 28
Kitara has scored the most number of goals in the first round. Goals were contributed mostly by the forwards and midfielders a record better than last season’s where the strikers took the lion’s share.
Goals conceded: 12
This was in contrast to our attack, our backline has leaked more goals than any other top 5 teams.
This is a concern head coach Wasswa Bbosa will have to critically address. Injuries of Nyakoojo Benjamin, Dudu Ramadhan and Jasper Aheebwa at the start of the campaign affected the team but we the Gaffer will be hoping for more consistency in the second round.
Goals scored at home: 20
Three quarters of our goals were scored at home meaning we were more efficient at the Royals Park in Butema than on the road.
Goals scored away: 8
Our biggest win away was the 0-4 drubbing of Maroons in Luzira while we also beat Lugazi FC 0-3 at their yard in Najjembe.
Goals conceded at home: 6
The Royals backline was not so solid conceding six goals in 7 home games was alarming thus they ought to be as mean as possible in the remaining half.
Goals conceded away: 6
By this time last season, our defence had leaked 11 goals on the road meaning the Royals will hope to maintain this record in the second stanza.
Win/ Draw/ Loss tally:
Matches – 15
Won -6
Draw – 3
Loss -6
Match with most goals:
Our home fixture versus Express FC produced the highest number of goals, we registered a 7-0 score line at the Royals Park stadium.
Match with the least goals:
The barren stalemates at the St Mary’s stadium with Vipers and Wakiso Giants at the Hamz Stadium in Nakivubo were the only two games we failed to find the back of the net.
Number of clean sheets: 8
Our goal minder Chris Kusiima put together 8 clean sheets out of the 14 games he played.
Red Cards: 0
Kitara completed the opening half of the league with no red card.
Yellow cards:
Ronald Otti -3
Solomon Okwalinga, Amaku Fred & Omedi Denis -2
Penalties conceded: 1
Out of the 15 games played, one penalty was given against us against UPDF at home which Chrispas Kusiima saved.
Penalties won: 2
Fred Amaku converted one and missed the other at home against Mbale Heroes and Express FC respectively.
Player with most appearances:
Chrispas Kusiima was the player who played 14 games, the keeper played more games than Arthur Kiggundu, Ronald Otti, Fred Amaku and Jude Ssemugabi who all had 11 appearances.
Top scorers:
Jude Ssemugabi -8
George Senkaaba -5
Fred Amaku -5
Kabon Living -3
Marvin Nyanzi -2
Most assists:
David Ndihabwe -3
Okwalinga Solomon-2
Kabon Living – 2
Jude Ssemugabi 2
Rogers Mugisha -2