Coaching counts very much in football, talented players can be assembled but, if they don't get the right technical brain to coach, there is no way they can excel. Sunrise FC was among the big spenders in the June 2023 transfer window. The Nyagatare-based club made some good signings including Robert Mukoghotya from Mukura Victory Sports. The forward was among exciting players in the 2022/23 season netting 12 goals. Sunrise FC parted ways with Innocent Seninga and brought in Hassan Muhire to handle the team. Hopes were high for Muhire to propel the club to greater heights but it turned out to be a fiasco. They were rooted bottom of the league table before the end of October 2023, having collected just 6 points in 9 games. ALSO READ: Murenzi nets winner as Sunrise stun Police After a 3-0 humiliation at the hands of Rayon Sports on match day 8, the club showed Muhire the exit door as they sought for a new direction. Sunrise in November 2023 brought in Ugandan tactician Jackson Mayanja, who was without a club, on a six-month deal with an option for extension. Mayanja is no stranger to Rwandan football. He was an assistant to his fellow countryman Mike Mutebi at AS Kigali FC during the 2022-2023 season before they were sacked over poor results. His next job was with Kampala City Council Authority where he was dismissed before the Sunrise FC deal game. Sunrise FC had previous success with Ugandan coaches. The most prominent was Moses Basena who guided them to seventh position during the 2019/20 season. Mayanja arrived at the club when players had lost confidence and the first task was encourage them to believe in themselves again. Players such as Samson Babua who had been off the radar started scoring. Babua scored three goals in two games which were against Gorilla FC and Amagaju FC as the club made a major leap. He also got the best out of Yafesi Mubiru who had scored 14 goals in the 2022/23 season but was struggling. The Ugandan forward also started to find his scoring boot. Mayanja brought his own football philosophy, he taught the Sunrise players how to move the ball fast and play with energy. They were to run for 90 minutes something which was lacking in their game under Muhire. In 11 games under Mayanja, Sunrise have won five, drawn four and lost only two. They defeated Police FC and also drew against Musanze FC who are all title contenders. Sunrise FC are currently on a seven matches unbeaten run. Their last defeat was on December 2, 2023 when they lost 1-0 to Gasogi United. In order to strengthen up his offensive midfield position, Mayanja made a strategic signing in the just ended January transfer window by acquiring Ghanaian teenager Emmanuel Sarfo who previously played for Still Believe FC and Techiman Heroes FC in the Ghanaian second tier. Currently, Sunrise FC have moved to 6th on the league table with 25 points after 19 games and it is evident they can even move up the ranks. For now, Mayanja is on course and his fingerprints can be seen all over Sunrise FC.
