Author: Ahmed Marsha

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) will hold a special press conference on Thursday 10^th April, 2014 at its Headquarters in Mengo.

With the 2015 AFCON qualifiers draw set to be conducted on 27^th April, 2014 in Cairo FUFA will announce plans for the campaign this week.

The function will be graced by the FUFA president Engineer Moses Magogo, his executive and Uganda Cranes sponsors Airtel.

The function starts at 11am.

FUFA Super League

Tuesday, 4:30pm

KCC v Police                        Lugogo

Masaka v SCVU                 Masaka

Soana v Simba                   Kavumba

Bright Stars v URA            Nakivubo

Entebbe v Proline            Wankulukuku

Both URA FC and SCVU will be eyeing the apex of the FUFA Super League table while Proline FC and Entebbe FC clash in a relegation battle as the top flight returns to various venues around the country today.

URA FC will travel to Nakivubo Stadium to play Bright Stars FC while SCVU are away to Masaka FC at the Recreation Ground.

SCVU have won their last two matches and the latest was a 5-0 trouncing of bottom rocked CRO last week whereas Masaka has drawn two successive home games 1-1 against Kira Young and Proline FC.

URA FC coach Paul Nkata will look up to his lead attacker Frank Kalanda and Ali Feni for the goals and maximum points that should give them their 13^th win in the league to go level with current leaders Vipers at the 45points. The current leaders are not in action today.

Champions KCC FC who are fresh from hammering Ntoda FC 5-1 in the Uganda will be looking for a win to keep the pace on the teams above them in the table.

The battle of the day will be at Mutesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku where Proline FC and Entebbe FC are fighting relegation.

After successive draws in their last two matches, Proline who lie in the drop zone (14^th on the table) and in his own confession, coach Shafiq Bisaso said that a similar result or worse will put them in a near no-chance of recovery this season.

“I don’t want to think of a loss or even a draw now. I have told my boys that. We still have a chance and that is why we want to win against Entebbe not draw or lose,” said Bisaso.

“I am confident to win because our team has always been an evening star (winner of late league fixtures) while our opponents (Entebbe) are morning stars,” he added.

Proline FC has been coming from a goal down to equalize in the last two league games.

The team shall depend on their lead striker Mubiru Haidary and Kidega Andrew in the hunt for goals while David Kamista will play the pivotal midfield role.  Lopidia Henry is ruled out with injury but Mandela Joseph returns to strengthen the midfield.

Uganda cup round of 16

NTODA 1-5 KCC FC

KCC qualify for quarterfinals

NTODA FC were hoping for another giant killing moment against KCC FC in the round of 16 in the Uganda Cup in a match played today in Ntungamo. The home fans were hopeful for their gods to be on their side again just like the way they saw off FUFA super league side Simba on penalties.

It was a different though as the day belonged to striker Herman Wasswa who netted a twenty minute hat trick in the second half as the reigning league champions sent the lower division side packing with a 5-1 win to be included in the quarterfinals draw on Wednesday next week 10am at aFUFA house in Mengo.

William Wadri gave the visitors the lead in the 8th minute before Hakim Senkumba doubled the advantage. Angora Denis netted on the stroke halftime to reduce the deficit for the home side.

Teams in last eight: KCC, URA, BUL, Lweza, Jinja Municipal, Wandegeya and Sports club Victoria University.

Hope Soana and Kampala University will play on Tuesday at Kyambogo to determine the final team that joins the quarterfinals.

 SCVU 5-0 CRO

Simba 1-0 Police

BUL 0-0 Bright Stars FC

URA 0-0 Soana

Vipers 0-0 Kira Young

Sc Villa 0-2 Express FC

Masaka 1-1 Proline

It has been a memorable week for Sports Club Victoria University (SCVU) as in a space of  72 hours, they managed to score a combined 10 goals against their opponents but in different competitions. Having booked a place in the quarterfinals of the Uganda cup on Tuesday by teaching FUFA Big League side The Saints a football lesson when they hammered them 5-1, Morley Byekwaso’s boys were more than  ready to better that score line today against bottom placed CRO in the FUFA super League on the same venue The Saints faced the massacre. In less than nine minutes, SCVU were already 2-0 up thanks to Mathew Odong and Caesar Sapewo goals. However CRO showed some resistance like they have done since the start of the second round which has seen them pick up credible results against Vipers, Bright Stars, BUL and Masaka LC but later conceded on 30 minutes through Cranes defender Iguma Denis. That is how the opening 45 minutes ended. Muwadda Mawejje and substitute Dan Isiagi added a goal each for SCVU to win 5-0 at Namboole stadium to move joint second on 42 points piece with URA. SCVU have a game in hand though.

At Nakivubo Stadium, Express FC went into the game looking for nothing less of a win. They played like wounded buffaloes to win 2-0 and keep clear away from the relegation monster. Willy Kavuma and Isaac Serunkuma netted for the red Eagles.

The Recreation ground in Masaka saw the home drop points in a 1-1 draw with Proline FC. Ivan Kisekka scored for Masaka LC while Andrew Kidega for Proline C.

In Bombo, the clash of government forces ended in Simba’s favor as they edged Police 1-0. Gonahasa Patrick got the only goal of the game.

In other games:  goalless draws were recorded in the following fixtures:

BUL 0-0 Bright Stars (two players were sent off -Rama Yakub for Bright Stars and BUL’s vice captain Kakande Herbert).

URA 0-0 Soana

Vipers 0-0 Kira Young

Viper remain the table leaders with 45 points.

FUFA Super League

KO: 4:30pm

SC Villa v Express FC        Nakivubo

SCVU v CRO                        Nambole

Vipers v Kira Young         Buikwe

URA v Soana                      Lugazi

Masaka v Proline              Masaka

Simba v Police                   Bombo

BUL v Bright Stars             Kakindu

You must understand when Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) football club head coach Paul Nkata says the team cannot afford to drop any more points now.

URA FC take on Soana FC in the FUFA Super League at Lugazi grounds today  and after dropping points in their previous match that ended in a 1-1 draw to Police FC, coach Nkata considers this encounter as important as ever.

‘You know where the league is headed now. We cannot afford to lose any points now. We have decided to approach every remaining match with the caution we often choose to approach a final’ Nkata warned after their last training yesterday.

Nkata is likely to maintain his line-up that drew with Police FC when Frank Kalanda leads the attack. The two teams played a draw in the first leg last October.

URA FC lost their latest encounter in the league to SCVU while Soana FC suffered the same fate to BUL FC.

A win for URA FC will propel them to level with Vipers SC on top of the table with 44points especially if the latter fails to beat Kira Young FC in Buikwe.

However, since returning to Buikwe after FUFA lifted the ban on the ground, Vipers SC have not dropped points there in the league. There latest league encounter there ended in 1-0 win over SCVU.

At Nakivubo stadium, SC Villa face their lifelong rivals Express FC. The Red Eagles even appear more wounded than the Jogoos ahead of the match. Express beat Villa 1-0 in the first leg at Mutesa II Stadium in Waknulukuku and they badly need this win to ensure they relax the relegation threat on themselves. Express are currently fifth from the bottom of the table in the 16 team log with just four wins this season so far.

Lweza FC got the better of rivals Baza Holdings in today’s Uganda cup round of 16 clash at Villa Park. Lweza won 1-0 thanks to a Mahad Kakooza strike as the FUFA Big League side stormed the last eight stage of the tournament played on a knockout basis. Lweza  now have 100% record against Baza Holdings whom they also beat 2-1 in the first round of the FUFA Big League.

The two teams still have scores to settle for a second round fixture as they are neck to neck for top honors in the Rwenzori group  to qualify for the FUFA Super League.

Lweza will be making another trip in May to the same venue-Villa Park for the Big league match.

Teams in Quarterfinals: Lweza C, Jinja Municipal Council, SCVU(defending champions) , Wandegeya FC, URA FC, BUL FC.

Note:

Remaining fixtures in round of 16:

5th April, 2014 Ntoda vs KCC FC-Ntungamo

8^th April, 2014 Hope Soana vs Kampala University (Venue to be communicated)

The winner of the competition represents Uganda in the CAF Confederations cup next year.

The tension already created between the two teams ahead of this game is just enough to tell the kind of action you expect at Villa Park in Nsambya this afternoon. The two teams are in the same group Rwenzori in the FUFA Big League and after today’s game, they will meet one more time in their battle for a place in the top flight.

Lweza are on top with 35 points while Baza Holdings lie second with 23 points.  In their last outings in the big league, Baza were humbled by Mutundwe Lions 4-0 at Nakivubo stadium while Lweza threw away a 2-0 lead to share the spoils in a 2-2 draw with The Saints at Namboole stadium. Some soccer pundits believe that the nerves have started affecting both camps.  

Saad Kibirango, Ddumba Sadala and Arthur Ssemazi will be the key players for Lweza while Johnson Akileng, Julius Isabirye, Moses Lukyamuzi and   Swaibu Kakwaya will also be ready to send their team into the quarterfinals.

Teams in Quarterfinals: Jinja Municipal Council, SCVU(defending champions) , Wandegeya FC, URA FC, BUL FC.

Note:

Remaining fixtures in round of 16:

5th April, 2014 Ntoda vs KCC FC-Ntungamo

8^th April, 2014 Hope Soana vs Kampala University-to be played at Kyambogo Uiversity

The winner of the competition represents Uganda in the CAF Confederations cup next year.

Results

Bright Stars FC 1-1 Proline

Entebbe 1-0 KCC FC

Entebbe FC and Proline FC headed into today’s fixtures very much aware that they needed to perform and focus if they are to keep alive their hopes of remaining in the top flight. Both teams played against teams above them in the table rankings.

Proline and Entebbe never disappointed their fans as they picked up results which they will surely look at in the next couple of weeks and judge for themselves-if they were valuable or not.

At Nakivubo stadium, Bright Stars took the lead though Hassan Kikoyo in the first half but Proline changed tactics and played their usual short and crisp passing game which put their opponents under pressure. Hood Kawere netted the equalizer. Bright Stars were saved in the dying seconds of the game as the ball hit the post.

At Mutessa II stadium in Wankulukuku, Nasser Muzamilu was the hero for Entebbe FC as he scored the game’s solitary goal against reigning champions KCC FC. Uganda Cranes winger Brian Majwega missed a penalty for KCC FC.

Kampala Regional league side Hope Soana are through to the round of 16 in the Uganda cup following a penalty shoot out victory over FUFA Super League side Express FC at Kavumba stadium.

The ‘one minute match’ was a a continuation of the abandoned action two weeks ago when the crowd could not allow play to continue when Soana equalised against the Red Eagles in the third minute of the four added in the second half.

The score was 1-1. In today’s action, no fans were allowed inside the stadium for the clubs officials. In the penalty shoot outs, Hope Soana won 7-6 to set up a last 16 clash with Kampala University.

Round of 16 Results:

In Jinja, Asiku Crespo was on target for home side BUL FC while Ayub Kisalita scored for SC Villa as the game ended 1-1. In  penalties, BUL edged the Jogoos 4-3.

In Buikwe URA knocked out Vipers 1-0 thanks to Emmanuel Ngama’s strike.

Wandegeya 1-0 Masaka

The Saints 1-5 Sports Club Victoria University (SCVU)

Remaining Fixtures-Round of 16

3rd April, 2014 Baza Holdings vs Lweza

5th April, 2014 Ntoda vs KCC FC

Teams in Quarterfinals: Jinja Municipal Council, SCVU, Wandegeya FC, URA FC, BUL FC

Round of 16

Jinja MC 1-0 Police

It is always a dream come true for any lower division team to be drawn against a top flight side in the Uganda cup. It is not about the financial implications in regard to the amount of money to be collected at the gates, but the beauty is about the ‘small team’ against ‘a giant’.

Over the weekend, Jinja Municipal Council was pitted against Police FC in the second most prestigious football tournament in Ugandan football.  Police were making their second trip to Jinja in this year’s competition.  In the early rounds of this year’s Uganda cup, Police needed penalties to see off Sadolin Paints.  

They were hoping for the same lady luck against Jinja MC. Instead the FUFA Big League side edged Police 1-0 to qualify for the quarterfinals. Bageya Edwin scored the game’s solitary goal.  

1^st April, 2014 SCVU vs The Saints-Namboole

1^st April, 2014 Wandegeya vs Masaka LC-Kiteezi

1^st April, 2014 Hope Soana vs Express in Kavumba. The winner plays Kampala University

1^st April, 2014 Vipers vs URA-Buikwe

1^st April, 2014 BUL vs SC Villa

3^rd April, 2014 Baza Holdings vs Lweza-Villa Park

5^th April, 2014 Ntoda vs KCC FC -Ntungamo

Results:

The Saints 2-2 Lweza

Mutundwe Lions 4-0 Baza Holdings

Kumi 2-1 Jinja Municipal

Hope Doves 2-2 Busia United

Ndejje University 2-0 Vurra

Soroti Garage 0-0 Sadolin Paints

Kirinya-Jinja SS 2-1 Ngora Freda Carr

VCC 3-2 Artland K

Wandegeya 2-0 Gulu University

Saadi Kibirango netted a first half brace for Lweza FC but were pegged back as they dropped against The Saints at the Mandela National stadium, Namboole. It looked all over for The Saints as the visitors dominated the entire first half and it could have been worse for the home team before the break. After restart The Saints coach Mark Twinamatsiko spent the entire second half standing issuing out instructions to his boys. His efforts paid off as they got two goals through Bwire Geoffrey and Sekajugao Vianney to share the spoils in a 2-2 drawn match that was watched by Uganda Cranes coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic.  Despite the loss, Lweza remains top of Rwenzori group with 35 points while Baza Holding who were hammered 4-0 by Mutundwe Lions lie second with 32 points. The Saints remain in third position with 27 points.  The winner in each group qualifies automatically to the top flight next season while the 2^nd and third placed teams go for the play offs to determine one more slot for the promoted teams.

In the Elgon group, Sadolin Paints lead with 36 points. Rwenshama are second with 30 points while Jinja Municipal in third with 25 points.