At the start of the April, KCCA appeared like they had un an assailable lead at the summit.
However, a blip in form has allowed rivals Vipers, Express and probably SC Villa and Soana into the race.
Four weeks to the end of the 2015/16 Uganda Premier League, the race is now widely open thanks to KCCA successive losses to The Saints (1-2) and Simba (1-0).
A nine point lead is now cut to six with second and third placed Vipers and Express having two and one game in hand over Mike Mutebi’s side who have just four matches to end the season.
Mid this month, Mutebi said. “The chasing pack doesn’t bother at all; my worry is about how my team performs.”
Indeed, he had a point because if his side won all their games that followed, the talk of a wide open race would be never heard of.
Rewind to the start of the second round, URA’s Kefa Kisala whose side are arguably out of the race had his say as well. “People claim the race for the title is over but nobody points at the winners.”
Back to the race, whatever happened then happened; what matters is what happens next, and it all starts on Friday afternoon at Lugogo when KCCA host Vipers.
Here’s the lowdown on each of the top three’s run-in:
KCCA
Played 26, 51 points, Goals For 36, Goals Against 19, Goal Difference 17
KCCA remaining Fixtures
Friday April 29: Vipers (h)
Friday May 6: SC Villa (a)
Tuesday May 24: Express (a)
Friday May 27: Sadolin Paints (h)
How they performed against remaining teams in reverse fixture:
The Kasasiro have two home and away fixtures but in only one did they pick maximum points in the first round but did lose to any either.
The side 2-2 with Vipers at Buikwe in a game they squandered a 2-0 lead, then came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Express at Nakivubo and needed goalie Benjamin Ochan to his mercurial best to salvage a point against rampant SC Villa.
Recent form: Currently, they are not doing well with just two wins in the previous five games an implication that they have picked just seven points from a possible 15.
On top of that, they have lost their previous two on the bounce against sides fighting relegation. Key games: The key game comes soonest on Friday at home when they host Vipers. A win over the champions will open up a nine point gap and although the Venoms will still have two games in hand, it will be hard for Mutebi to denied his first major trophy.
VIPERS
Played 24, 45 points, Goals For 34, Goals Against 20, Goal Difference 14
Remaining Fixtures
Friday April 29: KCCA (a)
Tuesday May 3: Express (h)
Friday May 13: Simba (h)
TBC: JMC (a)
Tuesday May 24: URA (h)
Friday May 27: The Saints (a)
How they performed against remaining teams in reverse fixture:
The champions came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with KCCA, lost to Express 2-0, beat Simba 3-1, then edged JMC Hippos 1-0, lost 3-2 to URA and won 3-0 against The Saints on day one.
Recent form: They have won three of the previous and lost just once picking 10 points out of a possible 15 which isn’t a bad return.
Key games: No doubt, the game against KCCA on Friday will go a long way in deciding the destiny of the title and having won at Lugogo last year, they will be confident.
Another key game comes against Express who they host at home and then a URA side that always gives them hard time.
EXPRESS
Played 25, 45 points, Goals For 33, Goals Against 23, Goal Difference 10
Remaining Fixtures
Saturday April 30: Bright Stars (h)
Tuesday May 3: Vipers (a)
Tuesday May 10: SC Villa (h)
Tuesday May 24: KCCA (h)
Friday May 27: Police (a)
How they performed against remaining teams in reverse fixture:
The Red Eagles lost one game against those sides; 3-2 against SC Villa who they led 2-0 at half time and won one against Vipers (2-0) and drew the rest; 1-1 versus KCCA, goalless against Police and 1-1 against Bright Stars.
Recent form: Wasswa Bbosa’s side have won three of their past five games losing and drawing once in the run and are unbeaten in the previous four.
Key games: The season’s defining moments for the six time champions comes in May when they play away to Vipers before hosting SC Villa and KCCA.
They must pick something from those games to stand a chance of winning the trophy they last won in 2011/12.
NOTE: SC Villa who sit 11th on the log with 33 points can join the race in case they win all their six games in hand over KCCA.
That would mean 18 points added to 33 which makes it 51, same as table topping KCCA.
The Jogoos must however play against KCCA, Express and URA which present tough outings for the club.