Seeta University marked their historic debut in the Pepsi University Football League with a hard-earned point after holding last season’s finalists YMCA to a goalless draw at Buwambo, announcing their arrival with an impressive performance against one of the competition’s established sides.
The newcomers showed resilience, discipline and determination to frustrate YMCA on their home ground, denying the hosts victory despite several scoring opportunities in an opening group-stage encounter that promised more than it ultimately delivered.
Credit to Jackshots
For Seeta, the draw was an encouraging start to life in the competition and evidence that they can compete with more experienced university sides. For YMCA, however, it was a missed opportunity to make home advantage count.
YMCA assistant coach Ibrahim Chandiga admitted that his team’s inability to convert chances into goals proved costly.
“We created several scoring opportunities during the game but failed to convert them, which cost us valuable points as we had to settle for a single point,” Chandiga said.
He praised Seeta for their spirited performance, acknowledging the energy and commitment they brought to the contest despite facing last season’s finalists.
“As finalists, we knew our opponents would not take us lightly. They came into the game determined to challenge us, and despite being newcomers to the competition, they showed great energy, hard work and commitment,” he added.
YMCA captain Ramathan Ratib also expressed disappointment at failing to secure maximum points at home, emphasising the importance of starting the group stage campaign strongly.
“Playing at home gave us an advantage, but unfortunately, we could not turn that advantage into a victory,” Ratib said, urging his teammates to learn from the result and work harder in their upcoming fixtures.
Seeta captain Steven Mark Muwanguzi, meanwhile, welcomed the positive result, crediting his teammates’ collective effort for earning a point away from home.
Credit to Jackshots
“Despite playing away from home, we came determined to get a positive result. We worked together as a team and pushed ourselves to secure a point,” Muwanguzi said.
He expressed confidence ahead of their next fixture, when Seeta will have the opportunity to use home advantage to strengthen their campaign.
Head coach Akim Ozit echoed his captain’s sentiments, insisting that reputation does not determine the outcome of a football match.
“My message to our opponents is that football is not won by reputation or by what people say about a team. It is won through hard work, commitment, teamwork and what players deliver on the pitch,” Ozit said.
The result gives Seeta an encouraging platform on which to build their maiden Pepsi UFL campaign, while YMCA must improve their finishing as they seek to recover the points dropped on home soil.
With their fixtures still to come, the opening stalemate sets the stage for another competitive game of the rookies.