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Barely got your breath back, right?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone – but there’s no time to chew over the fat of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League’s weekend games because we are getting straight into another gruelling week of action, the last game week for the first round of the league for all the 16 teams in the division.
Vipers vs KCCA on Wednesday is a date with destiny at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende – a date that is set up with the backdrop of URA FC claiming the lead in the league after taking down the defending champions by themselves.
But, on Tuesday, 2005 UPL champions Police FC host Six-time Uganda Premier League champions Express at Lugogo, while in Bombo, the Army side, UPDF will seek to hunt down the desperate Purple Sharks from Wakiso.
Here is our preview of the games to be played on Tuesday.
Police FC Vs Express – MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo
The ‘live on Sanyuka TV’ game gets underway at the MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo as Express FC visit Police with the hope of getting back to winning ways.
After winning their last five games, the Red Eagles have collected just a single point in their last two games. Having surrendered their unbeaten run to the season to UPDF on Tuesday last week in Bombo, the ‘Mukwano gwa’abangi‘ drew goalless with struggling Kyetume at the Betway Muteesa II Stadium-Wankulukuku. They sit third on the log with 29 points.
Meanwhile, Police FC are also winless in their last three league games picking up 2 draws (SC Villa and KCCA) and lost their first home game to URA FC, a feat that saw them drop to 5th place on the log with 25 points.
At home, Police FC have lost one game this season and won 5 of the 7 games played there so far, while Express FC hasn’t been so brilliant on the road with only four wins in Seven game away from home. They only loss this season also came away from home when they were defeated by UPDF FC 1-0 last week.
Last result
The Cops drew 1-all with their Tennants KCCA FC on Tuesday at the MTN Omondi Stadium in their last league outing. KCCA’s Sadat Anaku scored at almost the death cancelled Muwadda Mawejje’s early opener for Police.
A day later, the Red Eagles played out to a goalless stalemate with Kyetume FC at the Betway Muteesa II Stadium-Wankulukuku. Express FC have kept four cleans sheets in their last five outings
Head to Head
Police FC and Express FC will be meeting for the 23rd time in their history with the Red Eagles holding a slight edge with 9 wins. Police have 6 wins while 7 matches have ended in stalemates.
Police FC have won three of the last four meetings against Express FC with the visitors’ last win coming on 4th October 2019.
Last season, Police ran riot against Express putting 6 goals past against them at Lugogo with two braces from youngster Derrick Kakooza and Pius Kaggwa helping Abdallah Mubiru’s side register maximum points against the then struggling Ssimwogerere coached side.
What this could mean
A victory for Police FC would see them surpass KCCA who sit 4th on the log with 27 points as they will be a point above them before the latter visits Kitende on Wednesday to take on defending champions, Vipers SC. On the other end, if Express FC win, they will go second on the log on 32 points, surpassing Vipers SC who currently sit second on 30 points and will be just a point below leaders URA.
Injuries/Missing and Suspensions
Police FC: Samuel Kayongo, Fahad Kizito, Eric Senjobe and Bashir Kabuye
Express FC: George Ssenkaaba, Arthur Kiggundu
UPDF Vs Wakiso Giants – Bombo Military Playground
In the other game on Tuesday, Army side, UPDF FC will battle out with Wakiso Giants at the Bombo Military Playground as the home side’s coach, Kefa Kisala faces his former paymasters.
Kefa Kisala who replaced Ibrahim Kirya at Wakiso Giants after promotion to Uganda’s top flight last season was fired after 11 games in charge leaving the Purple Sharks in 10th place with 13 points out of the 4 wins, a draw and 6 losses.
After going 9 games unbeaten in the league, the Wakiso based side have lost three of their last five games and currently sit 11th on the log with 15 points. But the home side, UPDF FC is in the sixth position with 24 points garnered in the 14 games they have played so far this season.
Five of UPDF’s eight wins this season have come while at home defeating SC Villa, Express, Police FC, Busoga United and BUL FC.
However, their opponents Wakiso Giants have just only two wins in 14 games and have drawn more games this season than any other side in Uganda’s top-flight league (9)
Last result
UPDF travelled to King George IV Memorial Stadium, Tororo and easily defeated bottom-placed MYDA FC 3-0 with Robert Eseru, Brian Kalumba and Davis Kasirye netting for the visitors to garner their only third win on the road.
Wakiso Giants were handed their third loss of the season after Busoga United overcame beat them 1-0 at the Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium on Saturday.
Head to Head
This will be the first meeting between the two sides in Uganda’s top-flight league due to the fact that Wakiso Giants was only promoted to StarTimes UPL last season.
What this could mean
If UPDF FC can take maximum points from Wakiso Giants, they could go fifth on the log with 27 points, level with KCCA FC and surpass Police FC in the process. Wakiso Giants who are looking for their third win of the season (after defeating Mbarara City and BUL) could move a place up to 10th position, overtaking Bright Stars who currently occupy the position.
Injuries and Suspension
UPDF FC: Douglas Kisembo, Bernard Muwanga
Wakiso Giants: Rahmat Ssenfuka, Edward Satulo, Lawrence Bukenya and Faizul Ibrahim.
