Apart from Mbale Heroes, who returned to the Uganda Premier League (UPL) this season, after a decade away, Soltilo Bright Stars and Wakiso Giants have been permanent furniture in the division since 2013 and 2019 respectively.
One may suggest that Mbale Heroes, who are rooted at the bottom of the league table on 10 points with six games left, are not fazed by the likely prospect that they are going to be relegated.
They have lived in the lower echelons of Ugandan football long enough to feel at home there in case it happens. Yet, for Wakiso Giants and Soltilo Bright Stars, that possibility will feel so novel; it may be like coming from being an average student, to being demoted because of bad grades.
It can be agonizingly painful to go through it. But just how are the players at Wakiso Giants and Soltilo living through all this, as they struggle to keep their candle lighting through the heavy storm coming their way?
At this time last season, Soltilo striker Nelson Ssenkatuka was chasing the golden boot. At the end of it all, he came short with 13 goals, just four behind the eventual top-scorer, Muhammad Shaban. It was such a calm time.
Yet, more importantly, he went into every game upbeat: “I always expected to score, because as a team, we were in such a good place,” Ssenkatuka said.
Indeed Ssenkatuka and company were in good form. They came from behind to draw 2-2 with KCCA FC, and also stopped Kitara FC’s title charge with a 1-0 victory at Kavumba. But now, Ssenkatuka noted, it is a different ball game.
The pressure on them to win every remaining game is massive, and perhaps they even have to dig deeper than they have ever done in the past, to force the issue. Ssenkatuka added: “While we are calm and positive, we realize that we have no room for error. But also, it helps that we have been in a situation similar to this before. Back in the 2022/23 season, when coach Paul Kiwanuka took over at the tail-end of the season, we were fighting against relegation, and we managed to do it. We feel the same this time.”
Soltilo travel away to face Lugazi United on Friday, April 25. In the first round, the two sides shared the spoils. But a similar result will not do for Soltilo this time. They must win; otherwise, they continue to plunge into the abyss.
After beating Police FC 3-1 a few weeks ago, Soltilo were expected to follow-on with more impressive results, suggesting a revival. Yet, they only managed to lose 0-4 to URA FC, before drawing with fellow relegation candidates, Wakiso Giants last week, goalless.
Ssenkatuka agrees that it was a disappointing outcome recently, especially because of the chances they created.
He added: “One thing about the relegation zone, it affects your confidence. The scoring chances one used to bury with their eyes closed, now they seem hard to finish with eyes wide open.”
Wakiso Giants’ skipper, Hassan Ssenyonjo in action Difficult as the situation is, Ssenkatuka, the deputy captain of Soltilo, said they are positive, that they will stay up. It is a similar attitude that Wakiso Giants’ skipper, Hassan Ssenyonjo has.
Unlike Ssenkatuka, Ssenyonjo has been with the Kabaka Kyabaggu- based side from the lower division. Ssenyonjo, who is one of the most dynamic midfielders in the UPL, bleeds purple, as are the colours of his club.
But at this time, he acknowledges, that his goodness can only count when Wakiso Giants beats the drop. They host a tough BUL FC side this Saturday, April 26, and without a doubt, he admitted it is a must-win game.
“If we do our utmost, like I am sure we are capable of, we shall win,” Ssenyonjo said.
However, Ssenyonjo pointed out what a tough season it has been, putting in a shift, yet not being able to get the results required. He revealed that it had been a frustrating period, but then, they cannot give up when mathematically they can still survive.
Much of Wakiso Giants’ struggles this season have been attributed to the heavy turnover of players and coaches recently. The team has had to rely on several novices.
Nonetheless, Ssenyonjo does not want excuses, but effort from all his teammates because feeling sorry will not save their season, but a can-do attitude regardless of the pressure that is abound as games run out.