Mbarara City FC

Mbarara City FC is a football club in Mbarara City, Uganda. The team plays in the top division of Ugandan professional football, the Star Times Uganda Premier League where they have been participating since 5 May 2017, after defeating Synergy FC in the FUFA Big League Play Offs, and the club uses Kakyeka Stadium as their home hosting grounds. Mbarara City FC has more fans than any other team in the Western Region of Uganda.[1]

Mbarara City FC
MBARARA CITY LOGO
Full nameMbarara City Football Club
Nickname(s)Ankole Lions
Founded2010 (2010) (as Citizens FC)
GroundKakyeka Stadium, Mbarara
Capacity1,500
PresidentHon Mwine Mpaka Rwamirama
ManagerSadiq Sempigi
LeagueUganda Premier League
2021/227th

History

The club was founded in 2010 as Citizens FC, after the management of Citizens High School in Mbarara decided to create a team to play in mature competitions and help in nurturing football at the school.[2] The team played in the Western Uganda regional league starting from 2010 to 2014. In 2014, the team won the Western Uganda Regional League and was promoted to the FUFA Big League.[3] In July 2016, Citizens FC was renamed Mbarara City FC, mainly to get acceptability and fan base among the people of Mbarara and the whole of Western Uganda. This coincided with the club being promoted to the topflight, the Uganda Premier League in its first season after adopting the name Mbarara City FC. The club clinched promotion after defeating Synergy 2-1 in the FUFA Big League playoffs on 5 May 2017.[4]

2017/2018 Uganda Premier League Season

Mbarara City FC participated in the Uganda Premier League Season, the first division of the Uganda football league. In their first season in the top flight, it was the only team out of 16 that was based in Western Uganda. Its first game was played against Bul FC on 12 September 2017, and the result was a goalless draw. This was followed by a 1-0 win against Express FC with a goal scored by Pitis Barenge, a Burundian International in the 73rd minute on 16 September.[2] The club finished 11th, avoiding relegation.

2018/19 Uganda Premier League Season

Mbarara City were excluded from the Uganda Premier League at the start of the season, after failing a ground inspection, but appealed the exclusion and were reinstated.[5] Mbarara City were on top of the standings just after eight games with sixteen points. Paul Mucurezi scored the only goal against Bul to take Mbarara City to the top of the table for the first time in history.[6] Mbarara City won its first four home games, a club record. Their first round match was rescheduled after they moved to the Kavumba recreation ground. Mbarara City played 3 matches at Kavumba and won all of them (Mbarara City 3-1 Express, Mbarara City 2-0 Maroons & Mbarara City 2-1 Villa). The club has since returned to Kakyeka stadium in Mbarara.[7]

Stadium

The team play their home games at Kakyeka Stadium, in Mbarara City,[8] which has a capacity of 10,000.[9]

Supporters

The bulk of Mbarara City FC supporters come from the Western Ugandan districts of Mbarara, Isingiro, Ibanda, Kiruhura, Ntungamo, Sheema, Bushenyi and the country's Capital City of Kampala.

Notable players

Achievements
  • Western Regional League: 1
2014
  • FUFA Big League Playoffs: 1
2017

References
  1. Nasa Tushabe (7 May 2017). "Mbarara City F.C. beat Synergy F.C. to qualify to the Azam Uganda Premier League". Ugbliz.com. Kampala. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  2. Kawalya, Brian (17 September 2017). "Mbarara City FC Coach Delighted By First Win Past Express FC". Chimpreports.com. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  3. Isabirye, David (26 May 2015). "Wakiso United Promoted to 2015/16 FUFA Big League". kawowo.com. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  4. Muyita, Joel (8 May 2017). "FBL: Maroons Crowned Champions as Mbarara City steal final promotion slot". Chimp Sports. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  5. "Mbarara City to appeal Uganda Premier League exclusion". espn.com. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  6. Nahamya, Joshua (13 November 2018). "Mbarara City Beat BUL To Earn First Ever UPL Lead". Soft Power News.
  7. "Mbarara City target first season win against Express". Archived from the original on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  8. Google (25 June 2018). "Location of Kakyeka Stadium, Mbarara, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  9. Aloysius Byamukama (16 September 2015). "Football Returns to Kakyeka Stadium After Many Years". New Vision. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  10. Jude Ssemugabi extends his stay at Mbarara FC
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