By 
Kitara FC return to Royals Park, Butema on Saturday afternoon knowing victory against NEC FC could significantly boost their Uganda Premier League title ambitions.
The Royals head into the fixture third on the table with 54 points and now have an opportunity to close the gap on the leaders after Vipers SC were held to a 1-1 draw by URA FC on Friday.
A win for Kitara would move them into second place and cut the distance to the summit to just three points with only three matches left to play this season.
Despite the pressure, coach Wasswa Bbosa believes his side is prepared for the challenge ahead.
We face a good opponent, but we have our target: to win and close the gap. The team is ready and knows what is at stake,” Bbosa said ahead of the encounter.
Kitara will take confidence from their impressive home record, having remained unbeaten at Royals Park in all competitions this season. However, they come up against one of the league’s most consistent sides in NEC.
The visitors arrive in Butema unbeaten in their last 16 league matches, a run dating back to their 2-1 defeat to KCCA FC in December. NEC have also shown defensive resilience, keeping nine consecutive clean sheets since their 1-1 draw away to Vipers in February.
NEC head into the clash after edging BUL FC 1-0 at the FUFA Technical Centre thanks to a goal from Innocent Media, a result that lifted them to fifth place on 47 points.
Kitara will once again look to experienced attackers Patrick Kaddu and Muhammad Shaban for inspiration in the final third after the team created several opportunities in the recent goalless Stanbic Uganda Cup semi-final first leg against Vipers.
George Ssenkaaba, Kabon Living and Edson Agondeze are also expected to play key roles as the Royals search for a crucial victory.
The hosts will, however, be without suspended goalkeeper Meddie Kibirige, who begins a two-match ban following a ruling by the FUFA Disciplinary Panel after an incident involving Vipers forward Milton Karisa.
The reverse fixture between the two sides produced one of the season’s most entertaining matches, ending in a dramatic 3-3 draw in Lugogo. Joseph Sseremba, Joseph Dhata and Emmanuel Kulanga scored for NEC, while Gaddafi Wahab, Ssenkaaba and Emmanuel Alex Wasswa found the net for Kitara.
