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Uganda Premier League Fixture
- Kitara Vs Lugazi – Royal Park
Kitara FC return to action with renewed determination as they host Lugazi FC at the ever intimidating Royals Park in Hoima on Tuesday in the Uganda Premier League.
After a narrow 2-1 defeat to NEC FC in their previous outing, the Royals are eager to bounce back to winning ways and consolidate their position in the top half of the table.
Currently sitting fifth on the log with 35 points, Kitara FC will be banking on their impeccable home record, having won 7 of the 8 matches played at Royals Park this season.
They have only conceded once at home, underlining their defensive solidity and dominance in Hoima. Their last home game was nothing short of spectacular, thrashing KCCA FC 4-0 in front of their home crowd.
On the other hand, Lugazi FC, who sit 11th with 27 points, face an uphill task on enemy territory. Despite staying just above the relegation zone, the newcomers have only managed two wins away from home this season. Their inconsistency on the road has been a key concern for the team’s technical bench.
Ahead of the clash, Lugazi FC’s assistant coach Gerald Efiti remained optimistic about their chances despite acknowledging the strength of their hosts.
“They are so good at home and they have scored lots of goals from there but we have prepared the boys very well to stop them,” said Efiti.
He pointed out previous defensive lapses as a weakness they have worked hard to correct.
“We lacked some good defending in our previous games but for tomorrow’s match, everyone is ready. We have corrected all those mistakes. I don’t think the opponents will afford to score against us,” he added.
However, Lugazi will have to contend with key absences. Team captain Richard Ayiko is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, while striker Sam Ssemugugu is sidelined by illness.
Despite this, Efiti expressed confidence in the rest of the squad stepping up in their absence.
“We are doing all we can to win again. Our previous problem was scoring goals, and the goals have started to come. Unfortunately, we started to concede lots of goals at the same time. But we have worked on that and we believe we are not going to concede this time,” he concluded.
Kitara FC, meanwhile, will be buoyed by a full strength squad with no injuries or suspensions reported.
Their last meeting with Lugazi FC back in mid September ended in a dominant 3-0 win for Kitara away from home, giving them an extra psychological edge ahead of Tuesday’s encounter.
