StarTimes Uganda Premier League
Kyetume FC vs SC Villa
Mandela National Stadium, Namboole
Thursday, 29-08-2019 @8pm
NAMBOOLE – StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) record winners SC Villa will be hoping they can get their season off to a winning start when they take on Kyetume FC at the Mandela National Stadium on Thursday evening.
The game will be the opener for the 2018/19 season and despite having a troubled preseason, the Jogoos will be favourites to take all three points.
Villa have had issues throughout the last two months. Key among them was their training ground at Villa Park in Nsambya which was taken away and currently under demolition.
According to reliable sources, Villa is set to be compensated but are yet to identify a new ground.
For that reason, they have stayed at Villa park and used the remaining grass for their training, including the last one before Thursday’s league opener.
The Jogoos have also had issues regarding players as they have allowed excessive trails due to lack of funds to make proper signings.
As a consequence, they have resorted to signing second-fiddle players with the hope that they can help take the team forward.
The opening day fixture could not have been any kinder for Villa as they take on one of the three newly-promoted sides in Kyetume.
However, the Mukono based side will be no pushovers as they have several experienced players in their set-up, some of who have previously featured in the top flight.
Vicent Kayizzi, Elkenah Nkugwa, Joel Mutakubwa, Sam Ssenkoomi, Jonathan Dante Mugabi; Patrick Ochan,Robert Ssentongo, Noel Nasasira and Seiff Bate have all had stints in the Uganda Premier League and will surely cause Villa issues.
What the managers are saying
Edward Kaziba, SC Villa
“It’s very important to start the league with victory because it will give us a picture of where we will stand the whole season.
“The only thing I pray is that all our players qualify because there are lots of bureaucracy in player licensing. If all the players are there, am sure of the win.
“We have been preparing very well, we played a couple of games in preseason and we are ready for the kickoff. We are playing under floodlights although we didn’t get a chance to train under floodlights because of the protocol of Namboole.”
George Best Nsimbe, Kyetume
“We have had enough preparations, it will not be an easy game, we are still new in the league, unlike Villa who are the record winners.
“SC Villa are experienced and we respect that.
“We cannot predict how far we can go but our real target is to stay in the league this season.
“I have trust in all my players because all footballers are the same, it’s just a matter of motivation and encouragement.”
Match Stats
This will be the first-ever top-flight meeting between the two sides with Kyetume only featuring in the debut season.
SC Villa finished 12th last season while Kyetume were 3rd in the Big League.
Villa head into the game having lost only one of their last six SUPL games (W3 D2).
Away from home, the Jogoos have won two of their last six fixtures (D2 L2).
The SUPL upcoming fixtures
Friday, 29-08-2019
-URA FC vs Maroons FC @4pm
-Bright Stars vs Vipers SC @4:30pm
-Bul FC vs Express FC @4:30pm
-Onduparaka vs Police FC @4:30pm
Saturday, 30-08-2019
-KCCA FC vs Wakiso Giants @3pm
-Tooro United vs Busoga United @4pm
-Mbarara City vs Proline FC
