On Monday, the FUFA Competitions Committee finally released the long awaited FUFA Big League, Uganda’s second tier league fixtures.
However, taking long to release the fixtures was not news enough, but the fact that the league was to kick off on Thursday just two days after the fixtures had been released!
Just as football followers in the country were still debating on why the committee had decided to act in awkward way, another history making news has broken up. New entrants to the league Wakiso United have made history by appointing a lady as their head coach the first of this kind in Uganda’s men club football history.
Her name is Faridah Bulega a CAF C coaching license holder and former Crested Cranes striker.
Faridah Bulega was one of the best players of her generation. She was part of the Golden Generation that produced Olive Mbekeka-arguably Uganda’s best ever female footballer, Majidah Nantanda, Nakintu Robinah, Annet Nakimbugwe, Fatumah Luwede and Namata Agnes and as a striker, she easily hit the back of the net on several occasions.
Having attained the CAF C coaching License-a requirement by FUFA to coach any Big League club, she was approached by Wakiso United CEO Moses Tamale Bin Muhammad.
‘I received a call from Moses but I never believed that a woman would be sought after for a job to handle a men’s team’ said the 27 year old former National team player.
Bulega also handles FUFA Women Elite League side Gafford Ladies FC but spends most of her time with a girls’ football team under a Non-Government Organization called Field Of Dreams Uganda.
Bulega’s immediate task will be to see off visitors Synergy on Thursday and her new employers and the team’s fans are eagerly waiting to see her tactics.
‘’She has a brilliant CV and we have been following her performances at various clubs. We are confident we have brought a quality coach who will also change the image of the club and the game’ said Wakiso CEO Tamale.
‘It is a building process and we are confident that Bulega will play her part in the success of this team as we push for a place in the top flight’ added excited Tamale while talking to www.fufa.co.ug
‘I got the confidence from Hamid ‘Midi’ Juma who told me that I had all the qualifications needed to coach a men’s team. I listened keenly to what he was saying and slept over his ideas and I then started thinking about coaching a men’s team’ said Bulega.
Wakiso’s CEO adds that; ‘We don’t mind about a woman handling a men’s team. We know we have got one of the best coaches in Ugandan football at her age. We shall support her 100%’’
Bulega’s coaching experience
National assistant coach U-17 (Women)
Kampala United Women FC
Gafford Ladies FC (2015 FUFA Women Elite League)
Water City Boys FC based in Owino Market
Mulago Nursing Hospital C (men)
Airtel Rising stars Girls Kampala region-2013, 2014
2015/16 FUFA Big league Match Day One Fixtures in full:
Thursday, 8th October 2015:
Rwenzori group:
Kireka United Vs Kirinnya Jinja – Nelson Mandela National Stadium, Namboole
Hope Doves Vs Wandegeya- Mutesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku
Masaka Local Council Vs Masavu F.C – Masaka Recreational Stadium
Wakiso Utd Vs Synergy – Wakiso Play ground
Entebbe F.C Vs Sun City –Bugonga Stadium
Proline Vs Citizen – Nakivubo Stadium
Elgon group:
Paidha Black Angels Vs Ndejje Univ – Bar Okoro, Zombo play ground
Saturday, 10th October 2015:
Elgon Group: Onduparaka F.C Vs Ndejje University – Green Light playground, Arua
Sunday, 11th October 2015:
Elgon Group:
Lira United Vs Kira Young – Lango Sports Ground
Boma Young Vs Water F.C – Hoima, Boma play ground
Bukedea Town Council Vs CRO F.C – Bukedea primary school play ground
Tuesday, 13th October 2015:
Elgon Group: Onduparaka F.C Vs Baza Holdings – Green Light play ground
The FUFA Big league finally kicks off on Thursday, 8th October 2015 with seven fixtures on card.
