ExpressFeaturedFootball

Express FC: A steep hill that awaits Isaac Mwesigwa to climb

0
express-fc-a-steep-hill-that-awaits-isaac-mwesigwa-to-climb

♦ Related

Express FC has today announced the appointment of Isaac Mwesigwa as the Club’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), replacing Hamzah Jjunju who has been in the office for the last two or more so years.

Hamzah Jjunju’s tenure

Jjunju who was appointed by the former club chairman Hassan Bulwadda in 2018 replaced Muzafaru Ssebagala who took over from Ivan Kintu Bayige.

Upon his arrival, Jjunju’s immediate task was to help the club survive relegation which he achieved on the last day of the 2017/18 season.

Jjunju’s time at Express FC has been full of Ups and Downs. From the introduction of seasonal tickets for the club, securing sponsorship deals to the poor player recruiting system, fans influence, poor coaching staff recruitments, and a bitter relationship with coaches.

Jjunju has worked with four coaches during his two years at Express, Shafiq Bisaso, Kefa Kisala, George Ssimwogerere, and Wasswa Bossa plus a number of players. The 9th position in the 2019/2020 season was Jjunju’s best league position during his last time as Express FC CEO.

Express being one of the oldest clubs in Uganda has one of the most loyal fans who have reached a point of neglecting their other roles to influencing the team management, the reshuffle of coaches, and players.

Mwesigwa becomes Express FC’s 7th CEO, in under four years after Hamza Jjunju, Muzafaru Ssebagala, Ram Hadji, Hamza Jjunju (acting), Ivan Kintu Bayige (acting), and Sulaiman Walugembe Jjuuko.

Who is Mwesigwa and what does he bring?
express-fc-a-steep-hill-that-awaits-isaac-mwesigwa-to-climb

Isaac Mwesigwa (Left) is Allan Okello’s (Middle) Agent and he represents several other players across the country

Mwesigwa is a high-caliber professional currently technical and support manager for Ntest, Inc. (an American Fiber Optics Company based in Minneapolis, USA) representing Africa, Middle East, Asia, and parts of Europe.

He is also a founding member of the Futsal Association Uganda (FAU) together with Hamzah Jjunju, Serugo Pius, and other individuals. He works with several schools in a bid to develop an educated footballer.

The former FAU CEO has been directly involved in Uganda football since 2008 and comes with vast experience in player development and talent identification.

He has been working closely with KCCA FC, where he has been involved in signing a number of young players. He comes with passion, education, in-depth knowledge, and an understanding of the professional world of football coupled with good footballing connections across the globe.

What awaits Mwesigwa?

The newly appointed C.E.O is tasked to return the lost glory of the most ancient club but how is he has to do the unthinkable to achieve this.

He will have to change the player recruitment system at the club from quantity to quality as opposed to what has been going on for the past 5 years.

Mwesigwa is expected to champion and bring about a high level of professionalism, including binding players to good contractual lengths which have been some of the biggest problems under the former CEO.

He will also have to ensure fans are well controlled by introducing programs that seek to educate the fans on how to support their club in a more professional manner and their role to the club among others.

Lastly, he will have to get his hands dirty especially when it comes to the ‘Poli-tricks’ associated with the club and its operations.

How best can Mwesigwa and Kiwanuka do business? Well, time will tell.

CAF: $10.8M relief to be advanced to MAs, competitions return dates to be announced

Previous article

StarTimes UPL: How relegation kept calling for Maroons, Proline and Tooro

Next article