Uganda Premier League 2020-21 (Match Day 21):
Wednesday, 28th April 2021: MYDA Vs Vipers – King George IV Stadium, Kitende (4 PM)
Match Officials:
- Center Referee: Ali Kaddu
- Assistant Referee 1: Hakim Mulindwa
- Assistant Referee 2: Ronald Katenya
- Fourth Official: George Olemu
- Referee Assessor: Amin Bbosa Nkono
Over-looking the King George IV Memorial stadium in Tororo is a tourist gigantic volcanic plug – the famous Tororo Rock.
This Rock is visible from every corner of this Eastern Uganda town and virtually first timers at the stadium spend a lion’s share of their time admiring the irresistible wonders of nature.
Such will most probably be the case on Wednesday, 28th April 2021 when the four time Uganda Premier League champions (Vipers) visit Malaba Youth Development Association (MYDA) on match day 21 of the 2020-21 Uganda Premier League.
MYDA lost the corresponding first leg fixture by 7-0 at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on astro turf.
Back then, there were two braces by Yunus Sentamu and Paul Mucureezi, with a goal apiece from Congolese forward Ceasor Manzoki, left back Disan Galiwango and second half substitute Ibrahim Orit.
Talk of revenge or mitigating the damage from the first round duel will be a discussion for any a passionate football fan in Tororo, Malaba, Busia and elsewhere when the two clubs meet again, this time on natural grass.
Team News:
Both clubs in the box are wounded entities of sorts coming to this match.
Vipers lost 1-0 to rivals Express; a result that extinguished their unbeaten home run in as many games whilst MYDA fell terribly on road 6-1 to an effervescent Police side at the MTN Omondi stadium in the heart of Uganda’s capital city, Kampala.
With the recovery sessions on course, both clubs have shown intent and readiness to lock-horns on Wednesday.
Fred Kajoba Kisitu, Vipers’ head coach is well aware of the task in thy midst and any result short of a win will spell doom for the club chasing URA by four points (with a game in hand).
Vipers’ poster-boy for this particular game Manzoki will be playing in the far East of the country for the first time.
Manzoki’s 7 goals in his maiden season, supplemented by Yunus Ssentamu (10), Paul Mucureezi (9) and Ibrahim Orit (4) would make any opposition lad envious and worried in equal measure.
Burundian goalkeeper Fabian Mutombora traveled with the team since seeing red in the 4-0 home win moments after the 4-0 home win against Busoga United.
Mutombora’s immediate understudy Bashir Ssekagya and Derrick Kiggundu had equalled filled the void in his absence.
The return to full fitness of captain Halid Lwaliwa will also cast some smiles to the team and a healthy selection headache to Kajoba, Paul Kiwanuka and the other technical crew members.
Paul Willa, Livingstone ”C4″ Mulondo, Aziz Kayondo, Joseph Dhata and Disan Galiwango are other defensive minded players who made the Tororo trip.
Bobosi Byaruhanga, Karim Watambala, Milton Karisa, David Bagoole, Mucureezi, Ssentamu, Orit, Manzoki are all available for selection.
MYDA:
With 20 games played, MYDA has managed just 2 wins, 3 draws and 15 losses. The club’s telling times witnessed the sacking of then head coach Abdul Samadu Musafiri before his assistant Elisha Madanda took over.
Madanda managed a win, 3-2 over Onduparaka at the once dreaded Green Light stadium in Arua.
The club will therefore come for the Vipers’ game with some ray of hope of resisting humiliation at home.
Club’s talisman Ibrahim Nsiimbe (7 goals to his name), the Mutebi duo of Eric (3) and Peter, Moses Batali (3 goals), Amos Kirya (1 goal) and Mark Bassi (1) are expected to give put up a spirited performance once named.
Other players available include holding midfielder Amos Etojo, flying left back Faisal Muledhu, Rashid Mpaata, Solomon Babyesiza, Dickson Owuta, Peter Musoke among others.
A dice throw of either Isaac Osikol or Andrew Ssekandi could see who starts in between the goal posts.
Norman Ojik is absent with an knee injury, Paul Musamali (serving red card suspension), while Ahmed Saleh will miss the game because he traveled for a business trip.
The match will be handled by Ali Kaddu as center referee. Hakim Mulindwa and Mbale based FIFA Assistant Referee Ronald Katenya are the first and assistant referees respectively.
George Olemu will be the fourth official whilst FUFA Delegate, also the minister of sports in the Owakyabazinga of Busoga kingdom, Owek. Amin Bbosa Nkono is the referees’ assessor.