Soltilo Bright Stars interim coach Ian Mutenda has led his team to their first win of the season, marking a successful debut in his new role with a 1-0 victory over Kitara at Kavumba Recreation Grounds.
The win lifts Bright Stars out of the relegation zone, providing much-needed relief for a team that had endured a challenging start to the Uganda Premier League season.
Mutenda, previously the club’s sporting director and a host on NBS Sport’s Sport This Evening show, was appointed interim coach last week following the dismissal of Joseph Mutyaba.
Tasked with turning around a team that had only managed three points from their opening seven matches, Mutenda faced a daunting challenge with Bright Stars at the bottom of the league, having recorded no wins, four losses, and three draws.
His first game in charge was against Kitara, who were seeking redemption after a recent 2-0 loss to URA in the debut game for their own new coach, Wasswa Bbosa.
Adding to their determination, Kitara hoped to avenge last season’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Bright Stars, a loss that ended their title hopes.
However, Bright Stars proved resolute, with striker Nelson Senkatuka finding the net in the 34th minute.
Mutenda’s team held on through a tense second half, securing the much-anticipated win.
This victory lifts Bright Stars to six points, moving them to 13th place in the standings, just ahead of Maroons, who sit in 14th with a game in hand against URA scheduled for tomorrow.
The result marks a promising start for Mutenda, and there is now speculation on whether the club will offer him the role on a permanent basis.
Meanwhile, Kitara’s struggles persist as they now drop to 15th place with four points, having now lost five of their last six games.
The club, which sacked Brian Ssenyondo, who won last season’s Uganda Cup with them, are yet to see an improvement under Bbosa, who has recorded back-to-back losses since taking charge.
They will next face UPDF after the international break at their new home, Royals Park in Butema, Hoima, where they are still in search of a first win.
Bright Stars, buoyed by today’s morale-boosting win, will host Maroons next at Kavumba, hoping to build momentum for the rest of the season.
