SC Villa will count themselves unlucky for not picking three points off Onduparaka in the Uganda Premier League tie played at the Greenlight Stadium on Saturday.
But most importantly Villa coaches Deo Sserwada, Shafic Bisaso and goalkeeping coach Christopher Lobo should be regretting the decision to start Ashadu Bugembe in goal ahead of tried and tested Yasim Mugabi as the home side won the game 4-3.
The score doesn’t tell the entire story, with the Bugembe decision that backfired Villa were the better side from the onset and it that was proved early enough.
After 12 minutes, Godfrey Lwesibawa swung his trademark teasing cross and it was met by Alex Kitata who reacted faster than Rashid Toha the man that was marking him.
Villa should have had a comfortable lead in the first 20 minutes but Kitata, Denis Kamanzi and Vitalis Tabu were blunt in front of the Onduparaka goal.
The hosts were desperate to get back into the game, Caesar Okhuti was fouled by Ashadu Bugembe in the penalty area.
The striker on loan from KCCA FC was cleared on the eve of the game gathered himself to slot the equalizer home, giving the Onduparaka faithfuls in the fully packed Stadium new life.
Three minutes later, Bugembe failed to contain Wahab Gaddafi’s free-kick, it went through his hands to cross the line but the first assistant referee had already given the goal.
Not even retaliation from Villa players and officials led by Seregius Katongole would make centre referee Alex Muhabi change his mind about the decision.
Villa coach Deo Sserwanda replaced midfielder Kamanzi with striker Umar Kasumba.
There was more drama at half time as Katongole had to be man handled and stopped from attacking the referees, but that didn’t stop him from throwing all sorts of insults at the men in pink.
Three minutes after the break, Bugembe was still in his generous mood, while Onduparaka skipper Shaban Mohamed sneaked away from his marker Ibrahim Kiyemba, Bugembe couldn’t handle the pressure.
The goal keeper dived for the ball but his grip let him down as it jumped off Mohammed’s knee into the back of the net for his fourth of the season as Onduparaka led 3-1. Villa showed character and got back into the game. Kitata got Villa back into the game after Onduparaka custodian Richard Anyama put the ball in his path to tap home.
The same Richard Anyama fouled Umar Kasumba after 62 minutes and it was put away by Vitalis Tabu to level the game.
With five minutes to full time, Shaban Mohamed broke away from Villa’s offside trap, Ibrahim Kiyemba the nearest was beaten for pace as the former shot past helpless Ashadu Bugembe to make it 4-3.
The win leaves Onduparaka on 12 points to take their tally to 13 as the league takes break until October 10.
