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Surprisingly, Express FC has not lost a game since the second round of the Uganda Premier League 2025/26 season kicked off in February.
That should give them a spring in their step, when they meet KCCA FC under the floodlights on Wednesday, March 11, at the MTN Omondi stadium in Lugogo.
Back in the day, this was one of the top three fixtures on the Ugandan football calendar. Yet, considering how troubled Express has been for the last three seasons, a match-up with KCCA is simply a David versus Goliath kind of game.
The two teams are worlds apart. In fact, for Express not to be lounging in the relegation zone, is so good to be true. This has followed their coach, Jimmy Kintu’s ability to instill a survival mode into the squad.
Times have been hard at Express, something highlighted by the departure of coach Badru Kaddu with whom they started this season. Kaddu left the Red Eagles for NEC FC, and was soon followed by the star players that were his major trump-cards at Express.
This was the attacking trio of Richard Basangwa, Muhammed Ssenoga and Rashid Kawawa. This was the worst-case scenario for Express under the circumstances. They finished the first round just three points above the relegation zone.
Yet, for Kintu, he could do nothing to keep the club’s best players, when a more juicy opportunity arose. He just had to make do with whatever he had.
Before the second round started, Kintu said: “Regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in, we must keep working together with a positive mindset. That is what will enable us to get the results we need to be safe.”
One thing for sure is that Kintu was never oblivious of the fact that unless they sacrificed themselves for the club badge, the threat of relegation remained a big possibility, seeing how close to the bottom than the top they were.
But to stave it off, the players needed to have the right fighting spirit. In their 19 league fixtures so far, Express has managed to muster only four wins and seven losses. However, since wins have been difficult to register, a crisis well documented by the fact that Express has only managed to score 15 goals, yet conceded 18 this season so far, having realistic targets was the only way to go.
The second round addition of players like midfielder Marvin Nnyanzi and striker Kenneth Kimera appears to have given Express a confidence boost. They have shown the ability to face even the fiercest of their rivals.
But even more importantly, have managed to withstand pressure where they would ordinarily have struggled. A case in point, on Saturday, March 7, Express visited SC Villa at Fufa stadium, Kadiba to take on SC Villa and managed to pick a point off Villa, yet in the reverse fixture at Nakivubo, Express lost the tie 0-1.
But one key aspect that stood out last weekend, as has been in previous clashes, gave as good as it got from its adversaries. No wonder, Express midfielder, Nnyanzi, was voted man-of-the-match for his exemplary showing in midfield.
While Kintu is still calling more from his charges, the fact that Express has arrested their losing spree, is a commendable phase for the club this season. Kintu has been in charge of the team for 13 games in which they have collected 12 points.
It is still a low return from Express compared to the standing at which Kaddu left them back in November. Back then, after six games, Express had registered two wins, two draws and two losses.
They were in position number eight on the log, two places above their current placing. Yet, following the team’s current standing, Kintu, who is largely still a novice coach in the Uganda Premier League, considering that this is his first full season in it as a head coach, his two wins, six draws and five losses, are the reason Express remain out of the danger zone.
Last season, Express beat KCCA 1-0 in Lugogo, although the reverse fixture at home ended in a 0-3 loss. If the feat of last season, where midfielder Emmanuel Wasswa scored the lone goal for Express were to be repeated this time, it would be Kintu’s first away win. Beating KCCA now, who are second on the league table seems a hard prospect.
Since KCCA lost their opening second round fixture to NEC FC, they have gone on to beat BUL FC, Buhimba United and Police FC in their last three UPL fixtures. That suggests a team getting into top form.
But at the same time, KCCA, who are third on the log with 39 points in 19 games, are aware of the fact that they are five points behind the league leaders, Vipers SC. Therefore, the only way KCCA can keep within touching distance of the league defending champions, is by keeping their winning run on.
One can expect KCCA to play on the front foot so that they get some goals in earnest. For Express on the other hand, it will be about keeping it tight in order to extend their streak without losing a game to six fixtures.
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