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| Uganda Revenue Authority Football Club- URA FC has unveiled the former Express FC head Coach Alex Isabirye as their new coach on a one-year contract.
Isabirye replaces former Uganda Cranes star David Obua, who was sacked by the club in the second round of the just concluded StarTimes Uganda Premier League season before being replaced by Robert Mukasa as caretaker for the rest of the season.
Obua’s tenure at URA FC was short-lived, ending just a few months after his appointment. He was criticized for trying to implement a free-flowing style of play, often referred to as the tic-tac style, which is identified by over-possession of the ball and starting play from the back. However, this approach required time for players to adapt, leading to inconsistent results and dissatisfaction among some players and backroom staff.
Out of 20 matches under his management across all competitions, URA FC achieved 8 wins, 8 losses, and 4 draws. The internal discord resulted in several staff members, including Fred Muhumuza, Robert Mukasa, and Byron Okuba, resigning from the club before the management ultimately sacked Obua.
Now, Isabirye, who has also been unemployed since resigning from Express FC in March 2024 due to poor working conditions, faces the challenge of revitalizing a disoriented team. URA FC, which has not won the league title in the past twelve years, finished this year’s league in eighth position with only 4 points out of a possible 87.
But Isabirye will not be a new figure at the now Wankulukuku-based team because he will be returning for his second stint with URA FC. During his first tenure, he led the team to their last league title in the 2010/2011 season and won the 2012 Uganda Cup trophy.
He returns with extensive experience, having coached several other Uganda Premier League clubs, including BUL, Entebbe, Nyamityobora, Express, and Vipers, where he won both the Uganda Premier League and Uganda Cup in 2023.
Speaking about his appointment, Isabirye said that when URA FC officials approached him, he was happy because it showed him that they had been monitoring his work since he left the club more than ten years ago.
Isabirye added that while he knows that the current players at the club are quite different from those he used at the club more than ten years back, he is ready to work with those available to return URA FC to where it belongs.
Club CEO Allan Munaaba hopes the return of Isabirye will be key in pursuit of their glory days. “We are optimistic that Isabirye’s return will revive our glory days, with his vast experience and previous success with the team being seen as key assets. His immediate challenge will be preparing the squad for the grand opening of the newly refurbished Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium where we last won our league title as home ground.” he said.