Police FC need to find some consistency

When I think of Police FC, I see a club that has everything to challenge for the Turbo King National Football League. If I were to compare them to a foreign club, I’d say they have a resemblance to Tottenham Hotspurs – a club that always looks in shape but never wins titles.

Friday, November 08, 2013
Ivan R. Mugisha

When I think of Police FC, I see a club that has everything to challenge for the Turbo King National Football League. If I were to compare them to a foreign club, I’d say they have a resemblance to Tottenham Hotspurs – a club that always looks in shape but never wins titles.The Cops’ side has indeed disappointed. Lying in seventh place, seven points behind the leader AS Kigali, doesn’t justify the spending spree Police embarked on to acquire the services of eleven new recruits including a new coach in Sam Ssimbwa.Maybe it’s a reminder that introducing so many faces all at once destabilises the team’s chemistry, however, it was clear from the start that the club was being over ambitious.During the unveiling ceremony of new players, the club’s chairman, Colonel (retired) Louis Twahirwa Dodo, didn’t mince words. "This season we must raise the trophy!” he said.His ambitious expectations were built on from last season’s heroics, when Police FC finished second in the league.With new recruits like Donatien Tuyizere from Rayon Sports, Kipson Atuhire from Uganda Revenue Authority and Dennis Kamanzi from Kisubi United (Uganda), the only way for Police seemed cut out – or so it seemed.Club Captain Jean Bosco Uwacu must be wondering about what isn’t going well. Last week they had a great opportunity to show intent against league leaders, AS Kigali. Instead, they didn’t show up.They lost the match by a three goal margin, which only served to summarise their downward trend . It’s may be too early in the season but the early signs aren’t giving too much optimism for their supporters and well-wishers.On Saturday, Ssimbwa and his troops have a tricky away tie against Mukura Victory Sport at Kamena stadium in Huye where Police’s record there reads two defeats and two draws in the last four visits.Probably their best result so far was the win against rivals and reigning champions Rayon Sports late last month, but Police must eliminate their inconsistencies if they are going to achieve anything this season.This league is slowly turning into an open title race, where at least three clubs, AS Kigali, Rayon Sports and APR are currently tussling for the first spot. By any standards, Police FC must be among those clubs, fighting for the title as well but they need to show some consistency result-wise.Coach Simbwa is a recognised winner in Uganda and although his first stint with Rwanda’s now defunct Atraco FC was barren, his experience is something that could benefit Police.He has to return Police FC to their best or else suffer the fate of his predecessor, the Serbian Goran Kopunovic, did not win any silverware in his three years at the club.The table is slowly shaping itself into what it could look like at the end of the season, and it’s up to Simbwa to make sure that Police win their first historic title and join the other greats.The way it looks now, Police might need more than just a change in tactics to win the league or even they might need a miracle.