- Only Masavu doesnt have their fate in their own hands
The 2017/18 season will go down in history as one with the tightest relegation battles.
For the record, no team has confirmed going down until the final match day after Masavu’s draw with URA in midweek.
Kawowo Sports’ Ismael Kiyonga looks at the reasons to be both optimistic and concerned for those Premier League sides hoping to beat the drop.
There are still a number of teams facing the prospect of playing FUFA Big League football next season.
However, much can change between now and the end of the fight, so let’s see how some can survive or go down.
URA (Pos: 10, P29 Pts 34)
URA have had a stop start season and despite sitting 10th on the 16-team log, they are not far from the relegation monster.
The Tax Collectors will play away to Proline on the final day and defeat may see them go down if results elsewhere don’t go their way.
With 34 points, the four-time champions are just seven points above relegation yet some teams below them bar Masavu and Mbarara City have one or two games less.
They play their last game away from home against a side desperate for their lives and haven’t won in the last five games.
Remaining Fixture: Proline (a)
Mbarara City (Pos: 11 P29 Pts 32)
The League debutants have done well in their last couple of games but with just one game left, they can’t rely on results elsewhere.
Like URA, some teams below them have a game or two in hand which means they can overtake them if they falter.
What gives them optimism is the fact that their home form has been okay and host Kirinya Jinja SS, a side with nothing to fight for in their last game.
Remaining Fixture: Kirinya Jinja SS (h)
UPDF (Pos: 12 P28 Pts 29)
Arguably the team of the second round. The army side have put up a decent fight and despite being docked three points for fielding an ineligible player, they are still firmly in position to stay up.
What is scary is that they face Vipers in their last game away from home and with an inferior goal difference, they may go down with defeat on the final day but that will depend on other results.
But before that, they have a relegation six pointer against fellow strugglers Soana and maximum points will all but assure them safety going into the final game.
Remaining Fixture: Soana (h) and Vipers (a)
Soana (Pos: 13 P28 Pts 28)
If they go down, it would be down to their own making. Soana never looked to be in trouble until that humiliating loss to Express early in February.
They haven’t been the same but with two games remaining, maximum points will see them keep their status.
First, they must overcome UPDF at Bombo before taking on Maroons and failure to pick maximum points will see them go down.
Remaining Fixture: UPDF (a) Maroons (h)
Express FC (Pos: 14 P 27 Pts 27)
The oldest club in the league is in an unfamiliar position going into the final bend of the campaign.
The Red Eagles hold the biggest advantage of all relegation candidates with three games to play but they are not as easy.
First, they host title chasing SC Villa on Friday and later, visit another title chasing side in Vipers before a trip to fellow relegation candidates Masavu.
Failure to pick points off rivals SC Villa and Vipers means they will go into the final game with Masavu with a prospect of even finishing bottom of the log.
But their recent surge in form gives them hope and its within their own hands.
Remaining Fixture: SC Villa (h), Vipers (a) and Masavu (a)
Proline (Pos: 15 P28 Pts 27)
Tied on the same points with the Red Eagles but separated by goal difference.
Proline must win still have tough fixtures against SC Villa and URA (who are not safe as well) to play and must pick points to avoid second relegation in three years.
Remaining Fixture: SC Villa (h) and URA (h)
Masavu (Pos: 16 P29 Pts 26)
The league debutants can still win their last game against Express and go down.
Of the sides in the fight, the Entebbe based side have the least survival chances since it doesn’t entirely depend on their own.
Remaining Fixture: Express (h)
