StarTimes Uganda Premier League
KCCA FC vs SC Villa
StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo
Saturday, 02-03-2019 @4pm
LUGOGO – With Vipers SC hot on their heels, KCCA FC will hope to take care of SC Villa on Saturday afternoon when the two sides collide at Lugogo.
The Kasasiros head into the game only top of the log by goal difference, following Vipers 2-0 win over Express on Friday. The top two (Vipers and KCCA) both have 45 points with Vipers having played a game more on the KCCA.
Having held a 7 point caution ahead of Vipers barely a month ago, KCCA should already be feeling pressure and they know anything but victory against Villa, swings momentum to the side of the Venoms heading into the last 8 games.
However, KCCA head coach Mike Mutebi says his side is not concerned with what is happening behind them.
“We are still top and we will not be looking at our shoulders because our focus is on what is in front of us, said Mutebi in the pre-match press conference on Friday.
“Yes we have not been playing convincingly in the last few games but the results are not that alarming. Added Mutebi when asked about the performance of his side recently.
KCCA have not won in any of their last two League games including losing to URA 2-1 on Tuesday. However Mutebi is still confident that his side will win on Saturday.
“We are going to win against Villa because am expecting a reaction from my players and am confident i will get it.
“The game is going to be interesting because of the history between the two clubs.
Villa is a good team with a coach who knows how to do things but i am confident my team is going to win.
KCCA will be without Captain Timothy Awanyi who is suspended for accumulation of yellow cards. In his absence, former SC Villa skipper Bernard Muwanga is expected to martial the defence. KCCA FC are also welcoming back midfielder Lawrance Bukenya although another former Jogoo Nicholas Kasozi is expected to continue playing in the holding role.
For Villa, their main objective is to try and finish as high as they can on the standings especially after enduring a disastrous start to the season.
Currently, Douglas Bamweyana’s side are on a 5 game unbeaten run which has seen them win two and drawn the other three.
Coming up against one of their traditional rivals in KCCA will be a huge motivation especially after already defeating Vipers and Express in the last couple of months.
Villa will be welcoming back Derrick Ndahiro after the youngstar served his one game suspension for accumulation of yellow cards, in the 1-1 draw at home to Police. However, they are minus David Owori and Moses Kiggundu who are both suspended. Albert Mugisa and John Adriko also miss out with injury.
In Bashir Mutanda, Villa have the second league top scorer, one who will poses serious questions to the Kasasiro’s defence all afternoon.
Match Facts:
This will be the 18th top flight meeting between the two sides since January 2011.
In the other 17 during that period, KCCA have won 7, Villa 2 withe the other 8 all ending in draws.
SC Villa are winless away to KCCA in that period, losing 4 and drawing as many in their 8 visits to Lugogo.
Last season, KCCA defeated Villa 1-0 in the reverse fixture last season before defeating the Jogoss 3-2 at the start of this campaign in Namboole.
KCCA go into Saturday’s game having lost only one of their last 10 League games (W6 D3). That loss was in their last game, going down 2-1 at home to URA FC.
At home, they have also lost only one of their last 29 games (W24 D5).
For Villa, they head into the encounter having won only two of their last 9 League games (D5 L2). However, they have not lost in their last 5 (W2 D3).
However, away from home, the Jogoos have won only one of their last six games (D4 L1).]
The other games on Saturday:
-Bright Stars vs Ndejje University FC
-Onduparaka vs Maroons FC
-Kirinya JSS vs Nyamityobora FC
-Tooro United vs Police FC
Friday’s results:
-Vipers 2-0 Express FC
-Mbarara City 2-1 Paidha Black Angels
