Friday May 6, 2016
SC Villa Vs KCCA – Nakivubo stadium @ 4pm
Ahead of the highly anticipated league clash between rivals SC Villa and KCCA, the latter are banking on history as per the previous meetings.
The Kasasiro who go into the game aware that any further slip up may ruin their good campaign after failing to win in three successive league games have only lost once to the rivals since the 2011/12 season.
Then, striker Herman Wasswa, now at KCCA and midfielder Moses Ndaula (Lweza) scored for Mike Mutebi’s side as SC Villa won 2-0 at Nakivubo on a Sunny afternoon.
Coincidently, Mutebi, just like Herman Wasswa are now at KCCA and turn swords against their former bosses.
KCCA have lost twice and won once in their previous three a sequence that has seen their nine point-lead cut to three by reigning champions Vipers with less three games to go for each.
In the aftermath of a barren stalemate with Vipers, skipper Denis Okot said they need to regroup and is optimistic they can win all their remaining matches.
“We can win the remaining games and then wait for what our challengers have to offer,” he told the club’s official website. “We responded well against Vipers on Friday after losing two consecutive games against The Saints and Simba,” he added.
For the hosts, a need to return to winning ways after a shock 2-0 loss to The Saints two days ago (on Tuesday) will be the target.
“Before the blip against The Saints, we were on a good run and hopefully, we wake up against KCCA,” Kirya told Kawowo Sports.
The record league winners are still mathematically in the race despite sitting 10th on the 16 team log as they have five games in hand over their day’s opponent.
With 36 points, collecting 15 points from the games in hand puts SC Villa just a point adrift of KCCA and Kirya is much aware of this although he says they are not under pressure.
“Until we play all our games in hand, we are still in it but like I always say, games in hand aren’t points earned.”
Team News
There are no injury worries at SC Villa. Left back Isaac Muleme, one of the players to have ever played under Mutebi made a cameo appearance against The Saints and is expected to move straight to the starting eleven pushing John Adriko in front.
For KCCA, they are without defender cum midfielder Joseph Ochaya who is serving a one match ban for accumulating three yellow cards.
Injury wise, the club will be without Hassan Wasswa Dazo, Timothy Awany and Dan Isiagi who ruled out but good news is the return to training of Herman Wasswa, Lawrence Kasadha, Godfrey Ssembatya and Sulaimoni Akinyemi.
Defender Richard Ayiko who was part of the clean sheet keeping backline against Vipers is however doubtful.
KEY STATISTICS
- KCCA have won three of the previous nine meetings, SC Villa one and the rest are draws.
- However, SC Villa beat KCCA 3-0 in the finals of last year’s Uganda Cup at Namboole.
- Herman Wasswa has the most goals of the present squads – scoring twice against KCCA while still SC Villa and as many for KCCA against the Blues – including one in the corresponding fixture last season.
- He also scored in the teams’ last meeting – The Star Times Cup last month.
- Mike Mutebi was in charge of SC Villa the last time they won a league tie against KCCA – 2011/12 campaign.
- KCCA are top of the league standings with 52 points from 27 games while SC Villa are 10th with 36 points from 22 games.
Player Connections
KCCA’s Herman Wasswa, Lawrence Kasadha, Godfrey Ssembatya, Benjamin Ochan, Hakim Ssenkumba and Denis Okot are all former SC Villa players while Nicholas Sebwato is a former goalie and league winner with KCCA.
SC Villa Probable XI:
Nicholas Ssebwato (GK), Misi Katende, Isaac Muleme, Henry Katongole (C), Jonathan Mugabi, Paul Mbowa, Godfrey Lwesibawa, Mike Sserumaga, Umar Kasumba, Ambrose Kirya and John Adriko.
KCCA Probable XI:
Benjamin Ochan (GK), Denis Okot (C), Habib Kavuma, Martin Mpuuga, Sakka Mpiima, Ivan Ntege, Sulaimon Akinyemi, Jackson Nunda, Muzamiru Mutyaba, Ceaser Okhuti and Derrick Nsibambi.
The Previous nine League Meetings
2011/12 – KCCA 0-0 SC Villa SC Villa 2-0 KCCA
2012/13 – KCCA 3-1 SC Villa, SC Villa 0-0 KCCA
2013/14 – SC Villa 1-1 KCCA, KCCA 3-1 SC Villa
2014/15 – SC Villa 0-1 KCCA, KCCA 1-1 SC Villa
2015/16 – KCCA 0-0 SC Villa, SC Villa ?-? KCCA