Uganda Premier League:
Saturday, 5th January 2019
Sports Club Villa Vs BUL
Mandela National Stadium Namboole (4 PM)
Sixteen time Uganda Premier League champions Sports Club Villa return to domestic league action with a home duel against Jinja based side BUL at the Mandela National Stadium on Saturday, 5th January 2019.
This will be the first duel for the Jogoos in the virgin year coming from their goal-less draw away to new comers Paidha Black Angels at the Green Light Stadium.
The Jinja side fell at home (2-1 to KCCA) in their last game at the FUFA Technical Center, Njeru.
It is one game that matters a lot to either sides at this moment in time when the first round is climaxing.
Both sides will miss the services of their first choice goalkeepers.
Villa has goalkeeper Samuel Kivumbi out with an injury picked in a friendly duel and so is captain Ambrose Kirya while Joseph Ssemujju and Savio Kabugo departed for greener pastures.
Ssemujju travelled to Botswana to complete a move to Black Forest Football Club as Kabugo is now a player at AS Vita in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
BUL’s Hannington Ssebwalunyo and his biological brother Joshua ‘Letti’ Lubwama as well as Hamis Tibita are also out of the duel.
Key actors:
On form Villa forward Bashir Mutanda, who has firing on all cyclinders (incidentally also the league top scorer with 9 goals) will now turn the guns to the BUL back line.
Mutanda will need the backing of Pius ‘Muzeei’ Wanji, Albert Mugisa, David Owori, teenager Charles ‘Neymar’ Lwanga, veteran Mike Sserumaga and many others if the goods are to be delivered home.
Jean Pierre Kambale Muhindo, scorer of Bul’s consolation against KCCA last week will be expected to lead the attack line that has former URA and Paidha Black Angels forward Villa Oromochan, Richard Wandyaka, Deogracious Ojok and the robust Douglas Timothy Owori.
Mid-field contest:
Most football battles are won and lost in the middle of the pack.
This will most likely be the case when Villa faces BUL. Ever fresh David Owori, lively entity Mugisa, Ashraf Mandela, and Sserumaga have been key pillars for the Jogoos in the midfield during the previous matches.
They will come up against established midfielders in former Vipers anchorman Patrick Sembuya, Daniel Shabena and Yunus Sibira.
In Ssebwalunyo’s absence, Paul Mujampani is a perfect replacement as Yusuf Wasswa, who has been the understudy for Kivumbi at Villa will mann the goal posts.
Yusuf Mukisa, the current Villa captain will face his former side as he forms the core of the defence wall alongside Muhammed Kiggundu, Derrick Ndahiiro as well as the tried and tested Habibu Kavuma.
BUL’s Farouk Banga, Richard Matovu, Abdul Mayanja and former African Lyong defender Willis Otong are sure prospects for the Bidco sponsored side.
Either sides are eager to make an impression and smile away with maximum points.
Peter Onen’s BUL is currently 9th with 19 points. The Jogoos are 13th and not safe from relegation having fetched 14 points.
The approach to the game will be offensive minded because we need to score and defend well as well.
Simon Peter Mugerwa, assistant coach at SC Vill
A quick touch to the previous meetings between these two clubs indicates an upper hand for SC Villa.
SC Villa has won three, three draws to BUL’s one victory.
Other matches on Saturday:
Bright Stars Vs Vipers – Champions Stadium, Mwererwe
Kirinya Jinja S.S Vs URA – Mighty Arena, Jinja
