Azam Uganda Premier League
Saturday 05-05-2018 Fixtures
UPDF FC vs SC Villa @Bombo Military Stadium
Soana FC vs Onduparaka FC @kavumba Recreation Grounds
Mbarara City vs Proline FC @Kakyeka Stadium
Kirinya JSS vs Masavu @Kyabazinga Stadium
URA FC vs Express FC @Mandela National Stadium
NB: All Games Start At 04:00pm
UPDF will host SC Villa at the Bombo Military Stadium looking to recover the three points they lost to Bul this week thanks to a FUFA Competitions Disciplinary Panel ruling.
Also Read: UPDF FC loses game against Bul by Forfeiture
The points lost mean that UPDF start the day occupying the relegation zone and will be hoping for a positive result that ignites their relegation survival hopes.
For Villa, they start the day five points behind leaders Vipers SC who defeated Police FC 2-0 at the St. Mary’s Stadium on Friday.
Also Read: Vipers defeat Police to move five points clear at the top
Villa will know that there is no room for error as any lost points elevate Vipers closer to a first league crown in three years.
“We have to continue doing our part and hope that Vipers drop so points in the due course, said Villa assistant coach Paul Mukatabala.
“We won our last game at home and we need to keep the momentum flowing on the road.
“It is of course not going to be easy because UPDF are a strong side at home and the fact that they are still in the relegation battle makes it a whole lot harder but i believe we have got the players to inflict the necessary damage and get us three points.
SC Villa will have defenders Joseph Nsubuga and Henry Katongole returning to the team after recovering from their respective injuries. The record champions will look up to Martin Kizza, goalkeeper Samson Kirya and George Senkaba for inspiration.
Match Facts:
Villa won the first meeting between these two sides earlier this season 2-0 at the Masaka Recreation Grounds.
With the 1-0 win over Bul turned into defeat, this means that UPDF go into the game having won only one of their last nine games in all competitions (D3 L5). The win was against URA in a 1-0 victory at Bombo at the start of last month.
UPDF have won only 2 of their last nine league games (D3 L4), a run that leaves then only a point from safety.
The Army side side has been good at home this season, losing only three of their 13 games in Bombo including the Bul loss incurred by virtual of a board room decision.
For Villa, they come into the game having lost only one of their last 12 games in all competitions (W9 D2).
In the league, the Jogoos have tasted defeat in only two of their last 23 games, 1-0 at home to Vipers and then a similar scoreline away to KCCA. In that period, Villa has gone on to win 15 games and drawn the other six.
However, their away form has been worrying all season, managing only four victories in their 12 fixtures on the road (D6 L2).
Against the current bottom three, Villa has all four of its fixtures against them and that will serve as inspiration for Mukatabala and co.
At Kavumba, Soana will entertain Onduparaka desperately in search of three vital points that will ease relegation fears for Smart Obed’s side.
A run of poor results that have seen Soana lose four and draw one of their last five league games has put the Kavumba based side only two points above the relegation zone with three games to play.
For Onduparaka, they are on course to their best ever league finish as they currently seat fourth, four points ahead of Kirinya JSS in fifth.
Another game to be played on Saturday will see relegation threatened Mbarara City and Proline do battle at the Kakyeka stadium.
With only two points separating the two sides, it will be a match that will be played in a spirit of a final as a loss for either side may have grave relegation implications.
Mbarara seat in 12th at the start of the day with 28 points from 27 games while Proline occupy 15th but have a game in hand.
Elsewhere, Kirinya JSS will host bottom of the pile Masavu FC with the visitors desperate for points as time is running out on them.
With only three games to go, Masavu are still rooted at the foot of the table and seat four points adrift of safety. For Kirinya, they will be targeting a best ever points tally in the top flight as they currently have 38 and seat in fifth on the log.
At Namboole, two former giants will clash as URA entertain Express FC.
Sam Simbwa who is the head coach of URA currently was the last man to stir Express to the league crown in the 2012 season and if he defeats his former side, he may have probably put some impact on their (Express) relegation.
Express are currently seating only goal difference away from relegation and with them yet to play title chasers Villa and Vipers, three points from the game on Saturday will be welcomed as ‘god’.
