Express FC

Express Football Club (abbreviated as Express) is a Ugandan professional football club from Kampala. The club previously played their home games at the Muteesa II Wankulukuku Stadium, but recently shifted to the newly renovated Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo.

History Express FC is popularly referred to by the club fans as the Red Eagles and has also been known as the Express Sports Club. The club is one of the oldest football clubs in Uganda, having been founded in October 1957 by managers of the Uganda Express Newspapers. The main architect of the club's foundation was Jolly Joe Kiwanuka, the owner of the newspaper, who was ably supported by Paul Ssengendo, Hannington Kiwanuka, Dr. Banabas Kiwanuka, Gaster Nsubuga and Bishop Dr. Dunstan Nsubuga.

The Red Eagles were among the first Ugandan clubs to use football boots and since the club was revived in 1979 they have ever been relegated from the top-tier league. They are the only Super League side that has never featured in the promotional mini leagues. Hassan Mubiru finished the club and league's top scorer for three consecutive seasons from 2001 to 2003.

In total Express FC has won six league championships and ten Uganda Cup titles with the 'double' (league & cup winners) being achieved in 1995.

League history Express joined the Kampala and District Football League (KDFL) and by 1964 had become a leading force in the competition by winning Division One championship, with the club's leading scorer Ali Kitonsa netting 54 goals in 18 appearances. In 1968–69 the club participated in the inaugural season of the National League First Division, finishing in fourth position.

The Red Eagles won their first Uganda National League championship title in 1974 and repeated the feat the following season in 1975. In the 1977 season Express defeated the Army side Simba FC 2–0 in a crucial league match and were subsequently banned for allegedly being involving in anti-government activities, by the Governor of the Central Province, Col. Abdallah Nasur, who was unhappy about his side's loss. In 1979 the ban was lifted after the regime of Idi Amin had ended and Express returned to the National League for the 1980 season.

The Red Eagles brief interlude from National League football had lasting consequences as it gave rise to the development of its youth side Nakivubo Boys. All officials of Express turned to Nakivubo Boys and engineered their new team to become a footballing force in Uganda. Nakivubo Boys changed its name to Nakivubo Villa and then later changed its name to Sports Club Villa.

It was not until the 1993 season that Express won the Super League championship and there followed the most successful period in the club's history with further league titles in 1995 and 1996. Then a match fixing scandal involving Express' arch rival Villa interrupted this successful period. The scandal climaxed in 2002–03 season. and at the end of this season seriously tainting Ugandan football with Villa scoring 22 goals past Akol FC and then going on to take league title on goal difference from Express.

Over the last ten years the club's league performance has diminished although in 2011–12 the Red Eagles secured the Super League championship title once more by finishing one point above Bunamwaya SC. The following season in 2012–13 the club finished in 11th place, their lowest top tier position. In 2018 a fundraising campaign was held in order to help save the team from relegation. Express barely survived relegation in the 2017–18 season, ensuring their spot only after defeating bottom club Masavu 1–0 in the final game of the season. Their 13th-place finish became their lowest finish in the top flight.

Cups In contrast to their league performances, Express have been the most successful club in the Ugandan Cup winning the competition on 10 occasions in 1985, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002–03, 2006 and 2006–07. They have also made numerous appearances in African cup competitions, including one appearance in the CAF Champions League, six appearances in the African Cup of Champions Clubs, two appearances in the CAF Confederation Cup, two appearances in the CAF Cup and five appearances in the CAF Cup Winners' Cup. In 1995 the Red Eagles reached the semi-finals of the African Cup of Champions Clubs before going out 2–1 on aggregate to South African club, Orlando Pirates, the eventual champions. In addition the club has twice finished runners-up in the CECAFA Clubs Cup, the regional club competition covering East and Central Africa, in 1994 and 1995. Another success was winning the East African Hedex Super Cup in 2001–02.

Record in the top tier

Season Tier League Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA Pts1968–691Uganda National First Division4th14 8 2 432 17 1819691Uganda National First Division2nd18 12 2 464 24 2619701Uganda National First Division4th10 6 1 322 13 1319711Uganda National First Division4th14 72 520 20 161972Competition abandoned 1973Competition abandoned 19741Uganda National League1st14 9 4 129 12 2219751Uganda National League1st18 11 5 235 15 2719761Uganda National League2nd22 16 2 447 14 3419771Uganda National League 1978–79Not permitted to participate 19801Uganda National League5th30 14 6 1046 41 3419811Uganda National League3rd32 15 9 863 37 3919821Uganda Super League3rd18 9 6 332 20 2419831Uganda Super League4th28 16 5 754 39 3719841Uganda Super League3rd30 14 9 749 34 3719851Uganda Super League2nd26 19 3 450 23 4119861Uganda Super League8th28 9 9 1025 28 2719871Uganda Super League2nd21 11 8 238 14 3019881Uganda Super League 19891Uganda Super League2nd22 14 7 137 21 3519901Uganda Super League4th22 11 4 726 17 2619911Uganda Super League4th20 13 5 239 10 3119921Uganda Super League2nd26 17 7 243 19 41

Season Tier League Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA Pts19931Uganda Super League1st28 20 7 160 15 4719941Uganda Super League2nd28 20 5 364 14 6519951Uganda Super League1st28 24 2 273 16 7419961Uganda Super League1st30 23 6 161 15 7519971Uganda Super League3rd30 22 6 268 18 7219981Uganda Super League Nile SL Serie A2nd21 13 5 344 17 4419991Uganda Super League2nd38 28 8 285 15 9220001Uganda Super League3rd30 20 5 553 24 6520011Uganda Super League3rd28 14 7 737 25 4920021Uganda Super League2nd28 21 3 462 20 662002–031Uganda Super League2nd27 23 3 155 9 7220041Uganda Super League3rd29 16 9 447 20 5720051Uganda Super League Group C1st8 5 2 110 4 1720061Uganda Super League3rd28 15 9 432 16 542006–071Uganda Super League9th32 8 15 922 30 392007–081Uganda Super League6th34 12 15 730 20 512008–091Uganda Super League8th34 14 11 928 24 532009–101Uganda Super League2nd34 21 9 444 15 722010–111Uganda Super League7th26 9 10 718 14 372011–121Uganda Super League1st28 15 9 439 21 542012–131Uganda Super League11th30 8 12 1031 31 362013–141Uganda Super League 2020–211Uganda Premier League1st26 17 7 2 44 13 58Express FC Declared 2020/21 Uganda Premier League Champions Ndibba Updates

African cups history Season Competition Round Club 1st leg 2nd leg Aggregate 1975 African Cup of Champions Clubs First round Horsed FC 1–0 0–0 1–0 Second round Ghazl Al-Mehalla 1–1 0–1 1–2 1976 African Cup of Champions Clubs First round Caïman Douala 1–0 0–1 1–1 (4–3 p.) Second round Enugu Rangers 0–0 2–2 2–2 (ag.) 1986 African Cup Winners' Cup First round Al Ahly 0–2 1–0 1–2 1989 African Cup of Champions Clubs First round Mbabane Highlanders FC 4–0 1–2 5–2 Second round Zimbabwe Saints FC 1–0 0–1 1–1 (3–4 p.) 1992 African Cup Winners' Cup First round Al-Merreikh 0–1 1–1 1–2 1993 African Cup Winners' Cup First round Al-Merreikh 0–3 2–0 2–3 1994 African Cup of Champions Clubs First round Zamalek SC disqualified disqualified w/o 1995 African Cup of Champions Clubs First round Force Nationale Securité 2–0 7–0 9–0 Second round Aigle Nkongsamba 3–0 0–1 3–1 Quarter-finals Dynamos 0–1 2–1 2–2 (ag.) Semi-finals Orlando Pirates 0–1 1–1 1–2 1996 African Cup of Champions Clubs Preliminary round Sunrise Flacq United 1–0 1–3 2–3 1997 CAF Champions League Preliminary round Young Africans 0–0 1–0 1–0 First round CAPS United 2–5 4–2 6–7 1998 African Cup Winners' Cup First round Al-Mourada 0–0 1–0 1–0 Second round Espérance 1–0 0–2 1–2 1999 CAF Cup First round Medlaw Megbi 0–1 6–0 6–1 Second round Etoile du Sahel 2–2 0–2 2–4 2002 African Cup Winners' Cup First round Ghazl Al-Mehalla 2–1 1–2 3–3 (1–4 p.) 2003 CAF Cup First round Green Buffaloes 1–2 1–1 2–3 2004 CAF Confederation Cup Preliminary round Ethiopian Bunna 2–1 0–0 2–1 First round Lobi Stars 1–1 0–3 1–4 2008 CAF Confederation Cup Preliminary round AS Inter Star 1–0 0–1 1–1 (5–4 p.) First round AS Vita Club 0–0 0–0 0–0 (2–4 p.)

Achievements Ugandan Premier League: 7 1974, 1975, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2011–12, 2020-2021

Ugandan Cup: 10 1985, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002–03, 2006, 2006–07.

East African Hedex Super Cup: 1 2001–02.

Performance in CAF competitions CAF Champions League: 1 appearance 1997 – First round

African Cup of Champions Clubs: 6 appearances

1975 – Second round 1976 – Second round 1989 – Second round

1990 – First round 1994 – disqualified in first round 1995 – Semi-finals

1996 – Preliminary Round

CAF Confederation Cup: 2 appearances

2004 – First round

2008 – First round

CAF Cup: 2 appearances

1999 – Second round

2003 – First round

African Cup Winners' Cup: 5 appearances

1986 – First round 1992 – First round

1993 – First round 1998 – Second round

2002 – First round

Managerial history

Since the formation of the club a total of 44 men have been appointed as head coach of Express. The coaches that have served Express are detailed below:

Jolly 'Joe' Kiwanuka (1959–73) Robert Kiberu (1974–77) Ashe Mukasa (1979) John Dibya (1980) Emmanuel Nsubuga (1980–82) Henry Buyego (1983) George Mukasa (1984–85) Charles Masembe (1985–86) Dan Lutalo (1986) George Mukasa (1986) Robert Kiberu (1987–90) Billy Kizito (1990) David Otti (1990–95) Jimmy Muguwa (1995–96) Dragan Popadić (1996–97) Jimmy Muguwa (1997–98) Abo Korouma (1998–99) Godfrey Nyola (1999) Rashid Shedu (1999–00) Godfrey Nyola (2000) Eddie May (2000–01) Asumani Lubowa (2001) Godfrey Nyola (2001) Jimmy Muguwa (2002) Abdul Kadir (2002) Leo Adraa (2002–03) Jan Fray (2003) James S'ianga (2004) Leo Adraa (2004–05) Godfrey Nyola (2005) Polly Ouma (2005) George Ssimwogerere (2006) Kefa Kisala (2006) George Ssimwogerere (2006) Kefa Kisala (2006–07) Ibrahim Buwembo (2007) Kennedy Lubogo (2007) Sam Ssimbwa (2007) Polly Ouma (2007) Jimmy Muguwa (2007–08) David Otti (2008–11) Sam Ssimbwa (2010–12) Moses Basena (2012–13) Frank Anyau (2013) Sam Ssimbwa (2013) Wasswa Bossa (2014 – 14th February 2022) James Odoch (August 2022)

Express FC

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