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Was it the right time for Express to let Wasswa Bbosa go?

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The Touchline Sports - Was it the right time for Express to let Wasswa Bbosa go?

Express FC announced in a statement released on Monday afternoon that Richard Wasswa Bbosa, who re-joined the club during the second round of the 2019/20 season would be leaving the club.

Bbosa’s sacking came following three successive draws against Soltilo Bright Stars (twice) and Tooro United that left the club in 5th place on the log with 29 points, ten adrift of leaders Vipers SC.

But, before his official sacking, sources from within the club claimed that the club were considering firing the tactician after a sunday evening convention held by the helm at the club, and it would get to happen before Express’ next game against Busoga.

The players were given a day off on Sunday and came back for normal training on Monday, but were unfortunately informed that there would be no training again as they underwent a small warm-up session before it was also ended.

Meanwhile, Bbosa was seen to be in a small long meeting with members of his technical staff including assistant coach James Odoch.

But there has been a rift between Bbosa and his superiors at the club, with the coach openly expressing anger towards the club’s CEO, Isaac Mwesigwa, who also previously had a fallout with Sam Ssimbwa at KCCA FC not many years ago.

Bbosa the winner

Bbosa returned to Express as an interim in February 2020 to replace fellow twice the club’s manager George Ssimwogerere before he was confirmed as the permanent coach later in May 2020. He found the club fighting against relegation, seated in 13th position with just 21 points.

The former SC Villa boss who had left Tooro United brought in a couple of players who he had worked with including; Mahad Yaya Kakooza, Godfrey Lwesibawa, Issa Lumu, Arthur Kiggundu among others and the rest like they say, is history.

Express surprisingly turned from a relegation battler to title Contender moving on to win the league in Wasswa Bbosa’s first full season in charge putting an end to more than nine years of fruitless seasons. He was also the assistant manager to Sam Ssimbwa during their 2012 triumph.

The books will have him as the first Express coach to win a CECAFA Kagame Title. Many will front his sacking to his fallout with Club CEO Isaac Mwesigwa, while a section of fans believe that Bbosa has been the cause of his downfall.

In the league, it is believed that no manager has a better winning percentage than Wasswa Bbossa since he arrived at the club and had ground results against the top sides – beating Vipers at the St. Mary’s, claiming a season double against Sam Ssimbwa’a URA and troubling KCCA FC through the season.

The Competitiveness

Sources at Wankulukuku claim Bbosa had built a culture of competitiveness at the club because his greatest of strength as a manager is the ‘we fear no one’ mentality instilled in the players. Another strength is keeping his players fit and it was evident that their title claim was solely based on the high performance and fitness levels.

He managed to keep all his players competitive enough and was affected little by the injuries – when the leading scorer George Ssenkaba sat out the rest of the season after getting injured in the first round of the 2019/20 season, Kambale took over and scored the very important goals that would see them win the title. To some extent, a section of fans would attribute the high performance and fitness levels to  the heroics of Hellen Buteme, the fitness coach who arrived at the start of the season they claimed the title.

But, that is rebuttable as Bbosa had already proven beyond reasonable doubt that he would get his players to perform at a high level without Buteme at SC Villa and Tooro United.

Fans and Wasswa Bbosa

A section of fans believed it was time for Bbosa to go partly because of the recent results which if they compare to last seasons’ are worse. They also blamed him for ‘letting Eric Kenzo Kambale and Enoch Walusimbi leave in the middle of the season’.

However, some thought he would stay at least until the end of the season because of what he has done for the club in the last two years with the belief that he’s the best of managers they have had in the last few years.

Bbosa has been a fan favourite since replacing George Ssimwogerere at the Wankulukuku based side.

Rift with the CEO

At the time of his departure, Bbosa had already had a furious exchange with the club CEO Mwesigwa, accusing him of paying referees to get the results against him – during the game the Red Eagles were playing against Vipers at Wankulukuku. As the game was going on, Bbosa was allegedly heard saying; “CEO Waffe Yasasudde ba referee bankube omupiira nkimanyi,” literally translating to “Our CEO bribed the referees to ensure we lose this match,” after referee Lucky Kasalirwe gave a foul outside the area after Kambale was fouled on the edge of the penalty area.

He had been apprehended and fined a number of times of times by the FUFA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee for being a big mouthed coach. He was never letting anything stay unsaid.

He is well known for being a peaceful man but the news of his sacking after a meeting held at Wankulukuku conducted by club CEO Isaac Mwesigwa didn’t take him so well as he stormed out of the meeting saying “pay me my money” and the CEO responded that “come for it tomorrow.”

Bbosa and Express FC

It seems Bbosa has always given Express FC his best and the most in recent years but club continues to toy with him. Wasswa Bbosa was the assistant to Sam Ssimbwa in 2012 when they won the sixth title in 2012 and remained at the club when then latter left.

He was also sent packing when Hon. Florence Nakiwala became president of the Club, a decision that sent the club into a lengthy battle against relegation. While Express suffered, Bbosa Enjoyed stellar seasons at SC Villa and Tooro United helping the two sides to title challenging and respectable positions as well.

With the return to Express FC, Bbosa saved them from relegation, a battle they had endured many seasons before helping them claim their seventh title.

At the time of his departure, Express FC are 10 points away from the top in fifth place. There was still chance for the team to perform better.

The Players

Bbosa spearheaded an exodus of players into the club during his reign at the Wankuluku club, some of whom he had worked with in his last stint before the previous one and it is most likely that many players will have to get on the move again, should he immediately find another club. Also, the new coach may not be interested in the current squad as has been the case at many clubs in the Uganda Premier League when a new manager takes over.

Are Express FC ready for yet another player exodus?

If not, will the new head coach manage to work with the players he did not bring to the club?

Was it time for Express Fc to let Wasswa Bbosa go?

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