James Alitho has found a new home shortly after leaving URA – a club which he played for for two unlike stints in the Uganda Premier League (UPL).
Alitho is just a new member of the Wakiso side, but early signs prove he’s a vital addition to the club’s 2024/25 UPL squad, particularly the goalkeeping department.
The goalkeeper started in-between the sticks at the Kabaka Kyabaggu Sports Stadium as the Purple Sharks picked a point against Bright Stars in their opening fixture of the new season.
Herbert Asiimwe had scored for the Purple Sharks early on in the 36th minute, but John Kokas Alou equalised for Bright Stars in the 68th minute to deny Alitho a perfect start to life at his new club. Otherwise, it would’ve been a win and a clean-sheet on his Wakiso Giants debut.
The 2019 UPL Golden Glove winner (with URA) brings with him a lot of experience to the Wakiso-based club, having also previously played and won the league title with Vipers.
After his successful first stint with the Tax Collectors, Alitho left Uganda to join Zanaco in the Zambia Premier League midway in the 2019/20 season.
In Zambia, things didn’t go as planned for the Ugandan goalkeeper, and he returned to URA, where he was welcomed with open arms, and handed a new contract.
Upon his URA return, Alitho struggled for game time, with a number of obstacles consistently coming his way – one, immediately after another.
The outbreak of Covid-19 immediately after he had joined a new team, then limited playing time and injuries too all affected the once very promising goalkeeper who impressively played for the national team just a few years ago.
In his second year after returning from Zambia, the doctors warned that Alitho had to undergo a surgery for a knee injury he had sustained earlier on, or it would escalate and become more difficult to manage.
After the surgery, Alitho sat out for a whole season, and only managed a handful of appearances for URA after only returning to action last season.
The goalkeeper kept working on improving his physical fitness, but only couldn’t sort out his contractual issues with URA, to see if they could work together again, and that’s where Wakiso Giants came in.
At Wakiso Giants, Alitho will work under former Cranes players Steven Bengo and Tonny Mawejje as Head Coach and Assistant Coach respectively.
Meanwhile, the Purple Sharks have also officially unveiled David Bagoole, Marvin Oshaba, Issack Mtengwa, Shaibu Mtita, Tevin Kyeyune, Josephat Ayebare, Hudson Mbalire, Vincent Zziwa, Derrick Kaija and Eric Kabamba.
