Ugandan tactician Mathias Lule has opened up on his impressive run with Mbeya City in the ongoing 2021/22 Tanzania Premier League season.
Mbeya City sit third with 22 points, an incredible start to the season for a side that finished 10th with 42 points last season.
Their only loss came against Coastal Union, falling 3-2 away from home.
Asked on what he has done different this time, Lule told The-SportsNation: “It was changing players altitude and mentality.”
“Our target is to perform better than last year. The rest will come in when we perform well.”
This is Lule’s second stint in Tanzania and he is still remembered for helping Stand United beat relegation, going on to finish In 2014 I 10th having found the side bottom on the 16-team table.
Mbeya City have won five games including a 1-0 win over Simba SC, inflicting the Msimbazi their first loss of the season, thanks to Paul Nonga’s only goal at the Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya.
Lule was however unmoved, saying: “That win against Simba, yes it was sweet but it was normal win like others. Nikawaida.”
Next on Mbeya City’s menu is a daunting task as the side take a trip to face Khalid Aucho’s Young Africans on February 5.
Speaking about the game, Lule stated: “The game of Young Africans is very challenging because we have spent time without playing any league game, but we have and still fighting to see that we keep the boys in shape.”
The former Express FC tactician who is deputise by Kiwanuka says that the Tanzania league is “very challenging” because each game you play is a big match.
It remains to be seen if Lule’s Mbeya City can ably compete for a league title this season or finish inside the top four which will be a big achievement for a side that was formed in 2011.
But Lule, a former Uganda Cranes assistant coach to Sebastien Desabre, has so far proved to his bosses that he is still the right man for the job.
He replaced Amry Said Juma in December 2020, with Club CEO Emmanuel Kimbe confirming that Lule bear 13 other coaches including 10 foreigners from countries like Italy!
