First goal, bigger ambitions for Entebbe UPPC’s Kokolo

Reich Triomphe Kokolo had waited six matches for his first goal of the season. When it finally came, it was worth three points for Entebbe UPPC FC.

The forward struck in the 42nd minute to hand UPPC a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kigezi HomeBoyz at Rwamwanja Stadium in Kamwenge on Thursday, ending his scoring drought and keeping his team’s push up the Uganda Premier League table on course.

Kokolo’s finish settled a tight Matchday Seven contest in which UPPC struggled to find an early breakthrough before striking just before half-time.

“We wanted to score early; that didn’t happen, but towards the end of the first half we managed to score, and the goal led us to victory,” Kokolo said.

The forward admitted UPPC had expected a difficult afternoon despite facing a side at the bottom of the table.

“At first we knew it would be really very difficult because we were playing against the last team, but in the end it went well. We won,” he added.

The goal gave UPPC something to protect, and they did so until the final whistle.

Kigezi HomeBoyz pushed for an equaliser after the break, creating chances as they sought to rescue something from the game. But UPPC held firm at the back, seeing out the remaining minutes, including three minutes of added time, to take all three points.

Kokolo acknowledged that the hosts had made life difficult but credited his side’s defensive discipline for the result.

“It’s normal; we had men facing us, it was also a team. It’s normal for them to create chances too, but we stayed solid; we didn’t concede,” he said.

Reich Triomphe Kokolo

The victory lifts UPPC to fourth place with 14 points from seven matches, level with third-placed NEC FC, while Kigezi HomeBoyz remain bottom of the standings.

For Kokolo, however, the result carried a personal significance. After drawing a blank in his first six outings, he finally opened his account and believes more goals will follow.

“For me, the most important thing is the team, the collective, but I knew that at some point it would come. I struggled to score in the first six matches, but today, thanks to God, I got my first goal,” he said.

“The tally has started, so the goals will come.”

Kokolo has set himself a target of more than 10 goals this season, although he insists hard work and focus will determine how close he gets.

“I hope for at least more than 10 goals. It’s the work; we stay focused,” he said.

His immediate focus, though, is helping UPPC climb higher. The forward wants his team to turn their promising start into a serious challenge near the top of the table.

“We will work even harder for the next match because we need to earn points to climb to the top of the table. We really need to be among the top two,” he said.

For Kokolo, that ambition starts with maintaining the discipline that carried UPPC through a difficult away fixture.

“We stay focused; we always want to win every day because we remain disciplined. That’s professionalism,” he said.

UPPC return to action on October 28 when they host Maroons FC at Hamz Stadium in Nakivubo.

Kokolo will hope Thursday’s breakthrough marks the beginning of a scoring run.

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