By Victor Turinawe
Uganda Christian University (UCU) Cardinals shared points in a 1-1 draw with Kyaggwe FC in a relatively tight friendly game.
The game, played this evening at UCU’s Main Football Pitch in Mukono Municipality at the Mukono Campus, marked another step in preparation for the two teams as they look forward to attaining success in their respective football tournaments.
The 1-1 draw came after Isaac Ofoyroth scored for UCU Cardinals, while Geoffrey Ssenyonga found the net for Kyaggwe FC. Both goals were scored in the first half.
UCU Cardinals’ preparation mission marks the start of a pre-season campaign aimed at restoring the university’s glorious days in the University Football League, having last won the competition in 2019 after defeating St Lawrence University 2-1 in the final.
Their next best performance in the league came in the 2023/24 season, when they reached the final again but fell to Nkumba University.
Douglas Enock Higaye, the caretaker coach of UCU Cardinals, said: “The result from today’s game is fair for us as a club as we embark on our preparation journey for the next University Football League. Last season, our performance in the league was not what we wanted, which is why we have played this game. It is one of the preparatory friendly matches we are planning to play as we embark on our pre-season preparations.”
For Kyaggwe FC, the friendly meant a lot as the 2026 Buganda Masaza Cup draws nearer, with the team managing to secure a draw away from home in their second friendly match.
Speaking after the game, coach William Kyeswa explained that the team is in a difficult group alongside Gomba, Buwekula, Busiro and Ssese, and noted that several key players were unavailable because they are still committed to their regional and top division clubs.
Kyaggwe head coach Kyeswa said the team is still in the early stages of preparation despite managing to secure a draw away from home in their second friendly match.
“We played this game not because we are fully prepared, but because we wanted to assess ourselves. We are missing some players, but it is good enough that we did not lose,” he said.
The coach revealed that the team expects all players to return by Monday after concluding their club assignments, which will allow the technical bench to organise another practice match to further evaluate the squad ahead of the tournament.
“The result is not bad because we got a draw away from home, but we are not fully satisfied because we are not doing some of the things we are supposed to do on the pitch,” he noted.
He added that the absence of several players has affected the team’s defensive organisation and overall tactical performance, but expressed confidence that the squad will improve once all the players return to camp as preparations continue for their opening match of the tournament on 21 June against Mawokota FC.
“We are having problems because we do not yet have the numbers we are supposed to have, but we believe the team will improve when all the players are back,” he added.
