Shirt deals, sacked managers, KCCA perfect home record and many more form the league’s most talking points half way the campaign.
Kawowo Sports’ chief football writer Ismael Kiyonga picks the key talking points after 120 league matches but not limited to the pitch.
KCCA perfect at home, average on the road
Log leaders KCCA have perfected the art of winning at home but will be worried of the performance on the road.
Mike Mutebi’s charges have a won a record 21 points (7 wins, 0 loss, 0 draws) but have only picked 10 out of a possible 24 away from the Phillip Omondi stadium, Lugogo.
The secret behind the home success is the artificial turf that has seen visiting coaches’ cram it as an excuse but understandably so.
Shirt sponsors deals for Express and Vipers
Express and Vipers joined Bright Stars, SC Villa, KCCA and Onduparaka as premiership sides with kit sponsors.
Vipers entered a two year deal with Hima Cement worth 632 million shillings on October 4 while a month later, Express FC partnered with Pay Television Company, DSTV in a one year deal.
Coaches sacked, others resign
The axe wielded on coaches at Vipers, SC Villa and Express while we saw many resigning.
The first culprit of the axe was Deo Sserwadda at SC Villa, replaced by his deputy Shafik Bisaso, then Alex Gitta faced the same at Express and so did Wasswa Bbosa who replaced him.
The latest causality has been Abdallah Mubiru at Vipers but we have seen resignation as well – Charles Ayiekoh (Soana), Sam Timbe (Police), James Odoch (JMC Hippos), Paddy Kintu (Lweza) and Alex Isabirye (Kirinya Jinja SS)
Fox in the box Sserunkuma still the best striker
His goal scoring ability has never been in doubt and he continues to let goals speak him. Geoffrey Sserunkuma deserves the tag ‘Ever Green’ for his predatory instincts and has proved why he is highly rated with 9 goals in just 12 starts for KCCA and leads the goal scoring charts.
With this kind of form, he has passed the test to make the Uganda Cranes squad for Gabon 2017.
Referees suspension
Musa Balikoowa and Wilberforce Oloya will live to forget the first round as it nearly cost them careers.
Oloya was suspended for the entire season after disallowing a genuine Derrick Nsibambi winner away to Kirinya Jinja SS while Balikoowa offside call against Herman Wasswa’s leveler for Express against SC Villa earned him a similar punishment.
The decisions by the FUFA Referees’ Standing committee sent the referees’ fraternity into panic but for good reasons.
Player involvement in match fixing allegations
URA suspended two players; Oscar Agaba and Fahad Kawooya for allegedly involving self in betting before the match against Express and Police terminated contracts of Godfrey Kateregga and Saddat Kyambadde for similar incidents.
According to URA officials, Kawooya and Agaba confessed to being involved in the act while the Cops’ duo remains silent although Kyambadde has clearly denied being involved.
How this is resolved remains a big enigma for the domestic soccer fraternity as a whole and hopefully, it doesn’t become a cancer in a promising to be vibrant competitive season.
SC Villa and penalties
No team has earned more penalties in the first 15 league games than SC Villa’s 7. The Jogoos have earned a penalty against Police, Onduparaka, Vipers, KCCA, Express, Bright Stars and Kirinya Jinja SS.
Fortunately, only one penalty is debatable – one versus Bright Stars at Namboole.
Onduparaka and the passionate the fans
No team has brought the passion back into the local game as Onduparaka. The Pride of West Nile – The Caterpillars have made match days colourful not only at the Green Light stadium but also away from home.
No wonder, they remain surprisingly in contention for the crown with 25 points, just seven behind leaders KCCA.
Jinja teams struggle
In case the league ended at this particular time, three of the four Jinja sides would be relegated.
The four teams from the East have struggled to impress so far with an aggregate 6 wins; 3 of which have been posted Sadolin Paints who is arguably the one eyed among the blind.
JMC Hippos remain bottom of the log with 7 points; newly promoted Kirinya Jinja SS are yet to pick maximum points while Bul are 3rd from bottom with 13 points.
