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And he will have an early opportunity to make good on that ambition on Friday, when he features in his first final with the club in the FUFA Super 8 final against URA FC on Friday.
Joel Mutakubwa, BUL FC's recent star goalkeeper signing, has set his sights on more than just personal performance; he aims to lead the team to major honours.
Since joining BUL FC in June, the goalkeeper has articulated a singular vision: "I want to guide BUL to a major trophy," he declared.
And he will have an early opportunity to make good on that ambition on Friday, when he features in his first final with the club in the FUFA Super 8 final against URA FC on Friday.
On his debut for BUL FC in August, Mutakubwa saved two penalties and scored one, helping his team clinch a 6-5 victory over SC Villa in spot kicks.
Evidently, Mutakubwa is not one for shortcuts. He acknowledges the immense hard work, patience, and perseverance required to turn his ambitions into reality.
"There are no short cuts in football. Football is all about hard work, patience and perseverance,” he told the club’s website.
“It comes with challenges but the fear of God can help you through," he avers, pointing to a higher power as a driving force behind his success.
Mutakubwa's declaration may sound ambitious, but it is far from outlandish looking at the recent trajection of his career.
His record boasts of guiding his boyhood club Busoga United to the FUFA Big League title seven years ago, along with a CECAFA senior challenge cup triumph with the Cranes in 2019.
In 2021, he won the regional clubs’ version of the tournament with Express, where he was unanimously named as the best goalkeeper.
BUL is hungry for success ever since they tasted the Stanbic Uganda Cup success in 2022., but faltered last season despite an early season promise.
Under Simeon Masaba, they underwent a winless league run spanning 14 matches, with the club opting for an internal restructuring spearheaded by Coach Abbey Kikomeko Bogere.
The focus is now on a blend of youth and experience, and Mutakubwa's proven track record makes him a linchpin of this new era.
According to the goalkeeper, his addition to the roster was a calculated move by the club.
"The technical team had various reasons why they signed me. They saw my abilities and they thought that I am going to be a major inclusion into the squad," he noted.
"I listen to my coaches and I do what I am supposed to do, and on time. When off the pitch, I make sure I don’t engage in things that can reduce my fitness levels," he elaborated.
"I also discuss my challenges and weaknesses with the goalkeeping coach and we see a way of solving it," he added.
While he has enjoyed great highs, his career has also seen lows. He describes his 2021/22 season with the Red Eagles as a difficult period:
"It is one of my worst seasons. It was really terrible, I had very many injuries. Lots of ups and downs and I missed out on many games and national team call-ups."
Known among peers as Varma, Mutakubwa models his game after legendary goalkeepers Denis Onyango of Uganda Cranes and Jan Oblak of Atletico Madrid.
His skills are many: exceptional shot-stopping, excellent long-ball distribution, and the ability to read the game—all attributes that substantiate the adage, "A good striker can win you points, but a good goalkeeper wins you titles."
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