Onduparaka have an opportunity to go top of the Uganda Premier League table with victory over Express.
The two teams clash on Friday afternoon at the Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku, with the feel-good factor prevailing in both camps.
The home team comes into this duel buoyant following a 1-0 victory over URA last week at the same ground. That victory meant Express who started the season poorly secured their second win of the campaign having beaten Maroons 1-0 before the international break.
The away side is dauntless. The Caterpillars, powered by a raft of exciting players have lost just once this campaign and head into Friday’s game on the back of a 2-0 win over Soana.
That triumph was the side’s third this season having gunned down Maroons in their first away match this term and Police at the end of last month. Those three wins came with Onduparaka shutting out their opponents. In fact, Leo Adraa and his boys have let in goals only once, against KCCA – which also counts as their only loss.
Four clean sheets have been kept thus far, and six goals have been bagged, making them the joint second in the top scoring chart. Only Vipers and KCCA have scored more [8].
The Caterpillars have fired blanks only once this term – against Proline in their opening game of the campaign. At least a goal has been scored in their games since then.
They will look to continue with the trend, but against Express, they face a side that hasn’t conceded at home and that has conceded the least number of goals [2] in the league.
The Red Eagles are indeed relishing their start at home, however, they’ll have to be wary of one man in particular – Rashid Toha. The Onduparaka captain loves playing against Express and the fixture comes at a perfect time for the defender who scored against Soana last week.
Toha scored all the three goals Express conceded against Onduparaka last season. He grabbed the equalizer in the sides’ 1-1 draw at Wankulukuku and scored two goals including a last minute header at the Green Light as Onduparaka beat Express 2-1 in the reverse fixture.
Toha and his teammates are aware that Friday presents them an opportunity to assume the summit therefore a good show is what they’ll hope for tomorrow. Onduparaka sit fifth with ten points, one behind leaders Vipers.
Express on the other hand, sit ninth with seven points, three behind their Friday visitors. Victory will take the side level on points with Onduparaka.
