Saturday fixtures @4pm
- SC Villa vs Express – Mutesa II stadium, Wankulukuku
- Gaddafi vs NEC – Fufa Technical Centre, Njeru
- UPDF vs Busoga United – Bombo Military Grounds
Uganda’s greatest football rivalry is on this Saturday at Mutesa II stadium, Wankulukuku as SC Villa host arch rivals Express in the premier league.
The two sides with a title haul amassing 24 are in contrasting situations at the moment with Villa still in the title race while Express are some distance off it.
The two sides come into the game on the back of disappointing results in the Stanbic Uganda Cup which saw them exit at the round of 16.
Villa are depleted with over six first team players out with suspensions (Arnold Odong & Gavin Kizito) while Patrick Kakande, Abasi Kyeyune, Hakim Mutebi and Cyrus Kibande are with the national U-20 side, Hippos in Ghana for the All Africa Games.
That leaves Hakim Kiwanuka, Charles Lwanga, Kenneth Ssemakula and the fit again Umar Lutalo as the key members of the Jogoos squad that must be at their best if they are to pick maximum points.
For the Red Eagles who have new coach Baker Mbowa in the dugout, Ramzey Kawooya and Marvin Oshaba are the key players declared absent.
“I have been here for three days but the response has been good,” said Mbowa. “We face a side on a good run but are optimistic of victory,” he added.
Villa have played the least games in the league with 17 but are ahead of Express by a single point and position as they sit 7th with 30 points.
The reverse fixture in a 2-1 victory for SC Villa who will climb four places to 3rd position with maximum points while the seven-time champions will move to 4th place ahead of Villa who have played two games less.
Hot Stat: SC Villa have won the last three league games against Express but have not registered four wins on the bounce in the last decade.
Elsewhere on Saturday, there are two relegation six pointers with Busoga United away to UPDF while Gaddafi host NEC at Fufa Technical Centre, Njeru.
