- Uganda Premier League (Match Day 12)
- Tuesday, 21st November 2017:
- Sports Club Villa Jogoo Vs Onduparaka – Masaka Recreational Stadium, 4:30 p.m
On their last visit at Masaka Recreational Stadium, Onduparaka were handed a rude welcome and baptism of fire by SC Villa.
On the day, Sports Club Villa Jogoo whitewashed their opponents 4-1 in a one sided match.
The third meeting between the two clubs comes on Tuesday at the recreational stadium.
Both clubs traveled early to acclimatize and get acquitted to the confines of the area.
SC Villa Jogoo did not leave Masaka after their 1-0 hard fought win last Saturday over a boggy and rigid Bright Stars outfit. The Jogoos pitched camp at Hotel Ram Hotel in the heart of Masaka Municipality.
Onduparaka left Arua shortly after their 1-0 win against a 10 man Kirinya-Jinja S.S outfit.
There is a lot at stake and egos to settle between the two clubs.
First things first, SC Villa and Onduparaka each has 19 points apiece, same of the reigning champions KCCA, a point shy of the log leaders, Police.
SC Villa head coach Wasswa Bbosa believes his players are in the right frame of mind to pull off a decent result at home.
“When we won away at BUL in Jinja, the result meant a lot to us. Remember, it was the first victory of the season away from home. Then, we beat Bright Stars and this is enough confidence ahead of the Onduparaka tie,” Bbosa told Kawowo Sports.
Missing Stars
The Jogoos will be without the services of their left back John Adriko and winger Simon Sserunkuma.
Adriko suffered a left sprained ankle in the fourth minute against Bright Stars while Sserunkuma has been absent for now close to three weeks missing a couple of matches.
It is a full house for Onduparaka whose rotational policy has benefited them for better.
Coaches Livingstone Mbabazi, Leo Adraa and Moses ‘Ugboss’ Oloya will combine heads as usual to name a formidable side.
The main focus could for a reason or another be switched to Onduparaka goalkeeper Nicholas Ssebwato.
Ssebwato will be facing a side that he once served.
The shot stopper recently scored a penalty against Kirinya–Jinja S.S, becoming the first goalkeeper to score this season.
Head to Head
Sports Club Villa Jogoo and Onduparaka shall be meeting for the third time in less than two years.
During the first meeting at Green Light Stadium, the Caterpillars gritted their teeth to a 4-3 victory.
During the return leg at Masaka Recreational Stadium, SC Villa Jogoo won 4-1 in Masaka.
Key Battles
The biggest battle in this clash will be in the middle of the pack.
Bowed legged Gadaffi Gadihno comes face to face with the passing maestro, Abel Eturude.
Hard tackling Ivan Mbowa will get the opponent to track the on form dribbling ace Allan Kyambadde.
New kid on the block, Rashid Okocha will be tested by the pacy Godfrey Lwesibawa as Martin Kizza or Vitalis Tabu will lock horns directly with either Simba Sabir or Aggrey Kirya.
The Jogoo forwards Alex ‘Benzema’ Kitata and George Senkaaba have some good work to do to beat Rashid Muhammed’s backline and Sebwato in the goal.
Likewise, Onduparaka’s forwards Karim Ndugwa, a former Jogoo and the young Ezra Bidda (if fielded) have a couple of tasks when facing the tried and tested Villa back line of Joseph Nsubuga, Ibrahim Kiyemba, Henry Katongole and captain Ibrahim Kiyemba.
“It will be a great match but hopefully we come top,” Mbowa told Kawowo Sports.
Home boy Nicholas Kasozi, Abel Eturude, Farouk Musisi, Vitalis Tabu, Martin Kizza and Allan Kyambadde will compete for the compacted midfield positions.
Victory for either side (with Police and KCCA drawing) will mean that either Villa or Onduparaka will shoot to the summit.
