This week is the fourth one since coach Petros Koukouras took charge at SC Villa. And during that time, he has been taking the players through their pre-season paces, to get ready for the 2021/22 Uganda Premier League, which kicked off Friday, October 15.
Villa expects to play its opening league fixture this weekend against Arua Hills SC at the Barifa stadium. However, the Jogoos started their pre-season training almost three weeks later than all the other top-flight teams.
Despite that, coach Koukouras feels they are ready to get their season started.
“We cannot wait to get started. In fact, we are looking forward to our first game. I had a chance of watching Arua Hills last week, and I felt they were a very good counter-attacking side. Yet, I still have no doubt, that we can go there and still put up a good performance,” Koukouras said.
Yet, with all the buoyancy of Koukouras, some mainstream media feel that having not had enough time with his players during pre-season, his charges may struggle.
Well, Koukouras, 33, said: “Whether the pre-season time was enough or not, it does not matter now. It is what it is. We have to play the league, and we are expected to perform because this is Villa, the greatest club in this country.”
Koukouras emphasized that one thing he is not going to use as an excuse is the time he has been with the players for pre-season. The youthful Greek tactician said that he has been able to pass on his ideas to the players, and they each know what they have to do in whatever situation while on the field of play.
“I trust my players because every passing day we have worked together, I have seen them improve. They have shown on the training ground an improvement in their tactical awareness and overall application. I am happy with what they have been showing and I believe we are going to do well,” Koukouras said.
