- Uganda Premier League
- Tuesday, 10th October 2017
- Masavu Vs Kirinya-Jinja S.S – Fisheries Training Institute, Bugonga (4:30 p.m)
- *Free of charge
As Kirinya-Jinja SSS travels to face Masavu F.C at the lake side Fisheries Training Institute playground in Bugonga, they will be missing an important player on the team – goalkeeper Thomas Ikara.
Ikara injured his left shoulder during Uganda Cranes Regional Tour match against the Northern Region Select at Lango Sports Ground a couple of weeks ago.
Ikara, who had kept three clean sheets in the club’s previous league matches against Express, URA and BUL had an awkward fall after an aerial challenge.
In his absence, Emmanuel Rubangakene, a former goalkeeper at FUFA Big League side Paidha Black Angels will ably fill the void.
Charles Ayiekho Lukula’s coached side faces a bruised Masavu outfit that lost three boardroom points (to Police F.C), Soana and Vipers in their last two games.
Masavu’s assistant coach Joseph Mutyaba, a former Uganda Cranes international starts a four-match touchline and dressing room ban with that encounter against Kirinya-Jinja S.S.
Mutyaba was implicated for abusive language towards the match officials in the club’s controversial 1-0 loss to Soana at Kavumba Recreational Stadium.
Key Battles
The main battle for Masavu against Kirinya-Jinja S.S will be fought, won or lost in the middle of the pack.
Emmanuel Akol, talented gem Ibrahim Kayiwa and the workaholic Isaac Ntege are three important pillars for Kirinya-Jinja S.S.
Their work ethic and unquestionable commitment during a given game comes under close scrutiny against an equally talented side that has Veron Ddamba, Onesmas ‘The Magician’ Andama and the hardworking Sulaiman Muttah who returns after missing the game against Vipers through injury.
Whichever side succeeds in controlling the midfield and ensuring supply to the forwards will surely reign supreme on Tuesday evening.
Kirinya Jinja S.S will start the aggressive center forward Faizal Muwawu and Musa Esenu, who requires close monitoring after picking up a head injury in the previous match.
Masavu will rely on the services of Abrah Ndugwa and center forward Charles Odeke.
Midfielder cum forward Ddumba ‘Sadaman’ Sadala and defender Lawrence Bakiranze miss out through different injuries.
Alex Gitta, coach at Masavu predicts a good match as they fight for the first home win of the season.
It is a match that we need to work as a complete unit.
We have an away win but it is time we start winning at home.
Kirinya Jinja S.S is currently 8th with 5 points whilst Masavu lies second from bottom on the 16 team log with just 3 points.
The match will be free of charge as communicated by Masavu F.C management to compensate for the fans who paid their gate fares and failed to watch the match aborted match against Police on match day one.