Express FC unveils squad and stadium ahead of new season

Results

International friendly

Express 0 Leopards 0

Express fans 3 SC Villa fans 2

There was a blow-up as Express FC unveiled Hamza Stadium as their new home venue from Wankulukuku Stadium. Fans feel the sh20,000 fee they charged was too high yet the team has been struggling.

Rogers Mulindwa, the chairperson of the management committee of the stadium feels the fans need to change their mindset.

“We want these clubs to build a reasonable fan base. If a fan still thinks I will pay sh10,000 and I stand for 90 minutes, here we are saying you have to sit after paying. What are you getting in exchange, people have to appreciate the Hamz Stadium as a standard, quality facility  and  it's even cheaper to give someone a game at sh20,000," he stated

"Here, we said the pavilion costs sh50,000 and it was the same amount Wankulukuku charged at their pavilion. On that amount, you were given a chair, which cost sh500. Several fans I interacted with were appreciative only that a good number of them had lost interest in the club because of the performance,” he added.

On the same day, Express presented their 2024-25 squad to their fans, and then after they played a friendly game against Kenyan side AFC Leopards that ended in a goalless draw. Earlier Express fans managed to beat SC Villa fans 3-2 in a friendly match.

Among the new players unveiled were goalkeeper Michael Kagiri, Sam Ssenyonjo, Geoffrey Gagganga, Herbert Kibirango, Michael Kimera, Andrew Eporu, Isa Glory Kisule, Charles Ssembalirwa, and Hafisu Wandera among others.

Returning to Nakivubo is not new for Express as it was their home in the 1990s with the likes of KCCA FC, defunct Coffee FC, Nsambya, Spear Motors, and Uganda Airlines before they decided to have their ‘own’ facility.

Captain Ramsey Kawooya pointed out how the friendly prepared them for the new season.

"The friendly gave us a clear picture of where we are as a team before the season starts. Looking at our performance, we are not bad. We just need to improve on a few basics. We are a team with experienced players and young people. The young ones give us energy. We are pushing for the top five. Playing in a stadium like this helps to bring out talent. We just need to play more games at night and artificial turf so that we can get used”, Kawooya.

Coach Baker Mbowa was impressed with the performance of his team.

“My team has responded well. We are building a team that we want to win in the future. Playing on a pitch like this will help to suit the game we want to play,” noted Mbowa`