Ahead of the much anticipated Bell Uganda Cup final tie that pits league giants URA FC against maiden Cup finalists Bunamwaya SC tomorrow at Pece Stadium, Gulu district, Kawowo sports analyses how the two sides compare in the different aspects from technical staff, players to the fan base. Lets get started.
COACHES:
URA FC’s Alex Isabirye is one of the youngest and most promising coaches in the super league. The former SCOUL, Villa and Cranes player has managed to win the league and is in line to achieve the club’s first league and cup double. With a bit of experience gained from CAF engagements this season and being on top of the league at this time, you can’t doubt his abilities. Like Isabirye, Bunamwaya’s Edward Golola is also a league winner and more experienced than his URA FC counter part given the time he has spent with the club. He is also still fighting on both fronts with his side seated third on the league table four points behind URA FC. He has spent more time with his players unlike Isabirye an implication he understands them well.
VERDICT: ADVANTAGE BUNAMWAYA SC.
GOAL KEEPERS:
URA FC’s Allan Owiny is one of the best goal keeper’s in the country at the moment. His game reading, command of his defence and distribution is superb. However, whatever he does, Bunamwaya’s Hamza Muwonge does it better and given his experience with the national team, he can ably be a man for the big occasion and the Cup final is that grand stage he prefers.
VERDICT: Advantage Bunamwaya SC
DEFENCE:
In Simeon Masaba, Sam Mubiru and Ssegawa Lawrence, URA FC boasts one of the most experienced defence lines in Ugandan football. These alongside young and talented Sam Ssenkomi, Phillip Ssempiira and Allan Munaba, they make a good mix of youth and experience. On the other side, only full backs Nicholas Wadada and Godfrey Walusimbi are ably reliable. The central pair of Edward Ssali and Ronald Sseku some time mixes up and burst under pressure.
VERDICT: Advantage URA FC.
MIDFIELD: The two sides fairly square off in this department. What Bunamwaya’s Robert Kimuli can do, URA’s Manko Kawesa can also do. Hakim Ssekumba is as a good tackler as Oscar Agaba.
VERDICT: Draw.
GOAL GETTERS This is an area where comparison of the sides becomes interesting. There is no doubt Bunamwaya’s deadly attacking trio of Luwagga Kizito, Ceaser Okhuti and Tony Odur is the most threatening forward line in Uganda at the moment. However, the same can also be said of URA’s attack of Robert Ssentongo, Feni Ali and Sula Bagala/ Vincent Kayizzi.
In a recent interview with Bunamwaya’s live wire winger Luwaga Kizito, he singled out Okhuti as the man he feels will score in the finals, the URA’s Manko Kawesa pointed to the general team’s ability to score goals citing that the club’s leading scorer in the competition is Feni and not Ssentongo.
VERDICT: Draw.
EXPERIENCE: URA FC beats Bunamwaya SC hands down when it comes to this. Most of the players in the URA FC side have been there and done it unlike Bunamwaya’s. For instance, you can’t compare right backs Masaba and Wadada in the same line when it comes to experience.
VERDICT: Advantage URA FC.
FAN BASE: Both teams are not known for having so many fans. Add to the fact that the game will be played up country, only a few well wishes will make it to Pece. However, as an institution, URA FC can afford to transport quiet a good number to Gulu but it remains to be seen on who of the two sides the home fans will cheer.
VERDICT: Draw.
Do you agree with us? What do you reckon will sway this tie?
