Ibrahim Kasule: How does ex-Wakiso Giants star fit in and what does it mean for Mayanja and Mugume

It is easy to understand why KCCA signed Ibrahim ‘Owen’ Kasule. He is one of the best attacking midfielders in the country capable of creating goals with his passing ability and also scoring goals.

Kasule joins a group of midfielders which includes fellow new signings Yunus Sibira and Elvis Ngonde, Brian Jjara, Ashraf ‘Fadiga’ Mugume and Said Mayanja following his transfer from New York Red Bulls II in the United States.

But where and how does the former Wakiso Giants creative gem fit in?

No 8 or No10 or False 9?

Kasule can ably play as a no.10, or a little behind as no. 8 but also as a half 9.

In his first season at Wakiso Giants, Kasule played as the no.8 in a midfield that had Lawrence Bukenya and Hassan Ssenyonjo but when John ‘Ayala’ Luyinda took charge, he played him as a 10 and that is where he displayed his best football I.Q.

Before his move to United States in 2023, Kasule was arguably the league’s best player and at half season, he had registered six assists and scored five goals.

That form he carried to the MLS Next Pro playing in same position and leaves as their record goal scorer in the division.

His new coach Brian Ssenyondo knows what Kasule brings to the team especially in the final third.

“He brings exceptional quality on the ball, sharpness in the final third and composure needed in games,” said Ssenyondo.

“Having a player of his calibre in midfield gives us new tactical dimensions,” he adds.

Which options does he give Ssenyondo?

On paper, Kasule competes for the no.10 position with Said Mayanja with Yunus Sibira and probably Brian Jjara constant in the double pivot behind either.

However, both Kasule and Mayanja can play together as two no.10s in some matches with a no.6 behind them in probably Jjara or as expected Geoffrey Wasswa and or the young Jjara before his return to Europe (if it happens anyway).

But that will call for discipline from the anchorman as both Kasule and Mayanja don’t offer much without the ball in the final third.

Sibira has looked the part so far but thrives better as a no 8 because he has the intelligence to get up and down the pitch as a box-to-box midfielder and can be coached to do better tactically especially with his positioning.

However, there are some games that needs physicality over flair and perhaps require two No.6s in a double pivot meaning either one of Mayanja or Kasule sits out.

Meanwhile, as observed at Wakiso Giants, Kasule can also drift wide but those are positions where Shafik Nana, Ettiene Katenga and Sammy Ssebaduka survive although the former has to work on his final ball – he neither scores nor gives the assists but has the potential to improve on those two areas.

Who would lose out?

The arrival of Kasule does inevitably raise questions about some of the KCCA’s other midfielders.

Last season, KCCA relied heavily on Joel Sserujongi and Mayanja as the mainstays in the centre of the pack with Mugume and Jjara also sharing the load and once in a while, Sharif Ssengendo.

Ssengendo and Sserunjogi exit has freed up some space in the squad and those spaces are literally already filled with Sibira and Ngonde.

KCCA seek to compete on all fronts and thus means squad depth which implies the level of rotation in that context, and the potential for absences and injuries should still allow opportunities for Ngonde, Mugume and perhaps the forgotten Bright Anukani in midfield but the reality is that at a reported sign on fees of 100 million, Kasule is not arriving to play a supporting role.

For now, the biggest beneficiary of Kasule’s arrival at individual level is Charles Lwanga as his clever runs will earn him that killer pass from the new signing.

However, to get the goals from Kasule as well, an unselfish no.9 in the calibre of Frank Ssebuufu with whom he thrived at both Wakiso and at New York Red Bulls II is a must. Surely, he will miss Ivan Ahimbisibwe who moved to Iraq.

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