BUL 0-0 Vipers
It may come as a shocking development to many, lest, an accident to others.
Two time Uganda Premier League winners Vipers Sports Club failed to carry players’ licences for the away duel to BUL at the Kakindu stadium in Jinja municipality on Wednesday.
The home club thus requested the match commissioner Amin Bbosa to play the game which ended goal-less under protest.
Reason: The club traveled without the players’ documentations which are pertinent prerequisite during the inspection exercise of teams by the match officials prior to kick off.
After consultations, the players eventually moved out of the dressing rooms to the field of play.
Therafter, BUL captain Umar Mukobe thus posed with the Vipers 18 man match day squad in the team photo as proof of evidence.
In the game proper, majority of the players were affected by slippery surface following the early rains in the day in Jinja and the surrounding areas.
Vipers got closest to scoring the lower post denied forward Brian Nkuubi when goalkeeper Hannington Ssebwalunyo in the opening stanza of the game.
Nkuubi, Erisa Ssekisambu, Tom Masiko and defender Geofrey Wasswa all had different attempts at the home team goal.
Bul’s Richard Wandyaka, Hamis Tibita and Musindo had different 50-50 attempts.
In the second half, BUL returned a better side technically.
The visitors called for the opening change of the game with pacy forward Steven Dese Mukwala coming on for Ssekisambu 11 minutes into the second half.
James Otim shot straight at goalkeeper Ismail Watenga in what looked to be the best moment for the Jinja side on 60 minutes of action.
Vipers called for a double change with Clovis Mbayi and Baden Mujahid replacing Dan Sserunkuma and Tom Masiko respectively after 66 minutes.
Mbayi got involved into action almost immediately when raced onto a Brian Nkuubi long ball but the goalie reacted faster to thwart the chance.
Veteran Police forward Patrick Crespo Asiku was introduced in the last quarter of the half for the hard working Hamis Tibita.
Former BUL play maker Milton Karisa who was kept at bay throughout the match nearly scored against his former club but watched on in disbelief when his loop inside the area kissed the cross bar in the 76th minute.
Referee Ronaldie Kirangwa waved off a penalty appeal when Mbayi seemed to have been brought down in the area aggressively by Yusuf Mukisa with less than 12 minutes on the clock, a decision bitterly protested by Miguel Da Costa and other members on the technical bench.
BUL held onto the pressure till the very last moments of the game for a hard earned point.
Vipers captain Nico Wakiro Wadada, Tadeo Lwanga and the substitute goalkeeper James Alitho were cautioned while Yusuf Mukisa and Fred Agandu for the home team players booked for unsporting conduct.
The Jinja club who had David Kiwanuka on the bench now has 29 points from 22 games played as they lie 9th on the 16 team log.
On the other hand, Vipers remains third with 43 points from 22 matches, 6 points short of the leaders, SC Villa Jogoo.
The Jogoos who won 1-0 at home against Vipers have played a game more than Vipers.
KCCA is also on 43 but from 21 games.
Team Line ups:
BUL XI:
Hannington Ssebwalunyo (G.K), Umar Mukobe, Hakim Magombe, Yusuf Mukisa, Willis Otongo, Fred Agandu, James Otim, Daniel Shabena, Richard Wandyaka, Hamis Tibita (75′ Patrick Crespo Asiku), Jean Pierre Muhindo (90′ Patrick Sembuya)
Subs Not Used:
Paul Mujwampani (G.K), Adam Musisi, Abu Mayanja, Tibangana
VIPERS XI:
Ismail Watenga (G.K), Nico Wakiro Wadada (G.K), Duncan Sseninde, Geofrey Wasswa, Bashir Asiku, Tadeo Lwanga, Brian Nkuubi, Tom Masiko (66′ Baden Mujahid), Erisa Ssekisambu (56′ Steven Dese Mukwala), Milton Karisa, Daniel ‘Muzeyi’ Sserunkuma (66′ Clovis Mbayi)
Subs Not Used:
James Alitho (G.K), Dan Birikwalira, Shafik Bakaki, Moses Waiswa
Other results on the day:
- Express 1-0 Mbarara City
- Masavu 1-1 Proline
- URA 2-0 Kirinya-Jinja S.S
- SC Villa Jogoo 1-0 Police
- Bright Stars 2 -2 Soana