Football world wide and all the other sports have come to an unexpected halt due to the on going Coronavirus.
The Uganda Premier League which was also set to return in early May is currently in doubt as its expected resumption may not be achieved.
Even without the deadly pandemic, the UPL would still not have been played at this point in time as both the Federation and League governing body had agree to halt it so as to enable the National men’s football team (the Cranes) gear up for the 6th edition of CHAN, one that would eventually also be suspended, last month.
Before all that came into play, the UPL had only five rounds to play as all the 16 teams had played 25 of their 30 games.
As we approach the climax of the UPL action, PML Daily’s Shaban Lubega takes us through what he expects in the final five games and how many points each team will most likely collect, on top of their respective finishing positions.
Express FC
Current position – 9th
Points accumulated after 25 rounds – 31
What a difference a managerial appointment makes.
Express FC were in the relegation zone at the time of Wasswa Bbosa’s appointment following successive losses to SC Villa and Mbarara City FC.
However, five league later, they sit 7 points away from the drop zone after winning three, drawing once and losing only one of their fixtures in that period.
All that is down to Bbosa who changed so much at the club, on top of signing three free agents in Arthur Kiggundu, Isa Lumu and Baker Lukooya.
There target is to finish in the top six but i do not see that happening.
Playing four of their final five games at home, i see Express asking questions of the sides above them, defeating Wakiso, BUL and Vipers SC in the process. Draws at Bright Stars and Kyetume will ensure they remain unbeaten after the resumption of the league.
Express FC final five games
Wakiso Giants (H), Bright Stars FC (A), BUL FC (H), Viper SC (H), Kyetume FC (D).
Projected final position – 8th
Projected final points tally – 42
Wakiso Giants FC
Current position – 10th
Points accumulated after 25 rounds – 31
Wakiso Giants FC have had a debut season to forget in the top flight.
After a massive recruitment process before the season begun, the team has failed to live up to expectations.
Now currently under their fourth coach (Steven Bengo inclusive) and the purchase of more players in the January transfer window, Wakiso is still struggling and showing no clear indications that things will take a right turn soon.
Deo Sserwadda who took over from Livingstone Mbabazi in February has won only once in the league, drawing twice and losing the other of his four games in charge.
It is rumoured that internal conflicts are bothering the team and i do not think that will have been sorted when the league resumes.
Loses to Express FC and URA FC coupled with successive draws in their final three games is how i see Wakiso fairing in their last five fixtures.
Wakiso Giants FC final five games
Express FC (A), URA FC (A), KCCA FC (H), Proline (A), SC Villa (H)
Projected final position – 12th
Projected final points tally – 34
Kyetume FC
Current position – 11th
Points accumulated after 25 rounds – 30
One of the sides that surely did not welcome the league break.
After a shaky opening 19 games in their debut season, things had finally started falling in place for the Slaughters.
In their last six games, they had picked an impressive 11 points and lost only once (1-0 vs Busoga United).
That run coincided with the resurgence of veteran striker Robert Ssentongo who was scoring for fun once again and looked set to push Kyetume as high up the table as possible.
Will they return in similar form once the league resumes? That is the question every Kyetume fan must be asking themselves at the moment.
I think they will be hard to beat in their final five games but winning will also not be a certainty.
Draws against BUL, Bright Stars and Express, a win over Maroons and defeat to Villa is how i see them closing out the season.
Kyetume FC final five games
BUL FC (H), Maroons FC (H), SC Villa (A), Bright Stars FC (H), Express FC (A).
Projected final position – 10th
Projected final points tally – 36
Bright Stars FC
Current position – 12th
Points accumulated after 25 rounds – 29
Loses to SC Villa and Mbarara City is what Bright Stars FC managed in their last two games before the league broke off.
However, before that, they were in good form, winning six in eight whilst losing just once.
The break may have been good for Paul Kiwanuka’s side because of the successive defeats and i expect them to return stronger despite a stressing run of fixtures that see them away from home in four of their final five games.
However, i do not see them winning any of their first three games as i expect them to draw against Onduparaka and Express before losing at Vipers. Victories away to both Kyetume and Tooro United in their last two games will see the Stars end the season on a high.
Bright Stars FC final five games
Onduparaka FC (A), Express FC (H), Vipers SC (L), Kyetume FC (A), Tooro United FC (A).
Projected final position – 9th
Projected final points tally – 37
Police FC
Current position – 13th
Points accumulated after 25 rounds – 25
The darling of football fans in Uganda has once again not performed as many would have wanted.
However, they have once again entertained with their fast, free-scoring and open brand of football.
At some point, they looked destined for a top 10 finish as they collected 16 out of a possible 18 points between November and January.
The Cops then went on a miserable run that saw them fail to win in six successive games, form that saw them drop into the relegation zone once again.
Victory over URA in their last game before the break saw Abdallah Mubiru’s side climb into 13th, a spot i see them embracing at the close of the season.
Scoring goals has never been Police’s problem and i see them doing that in at least four of their last five games and pushing them past Maroons, Onduparaka and Busoga United.
However, because they are Police, i think they will lose to BUL and Vipers.
Police FC final five games
Maroons FC (H), BUL FC (A), Onduparaka FC (H), Busoga United FC (H), Vipers SC (A).
Projected final position – 13th
Projected final points tally – 34
Maroons FC
Current position – 14th
Points accumulated after 25 rounds – 24
The appointment of Charles Ayeiko may have been a bit too late as i don’t think he will save Maroons from going down.
Under Douglas Bamweyana, they started the season in good form and climbed as high as second at some point.
However, Steven Mukwala stopped scoring and the team too stopped winning.
Luzira is no longer a fortress of sorts like in the past and with a host of players failing to live up to expectations, Maroons stand little chance of survival.
The fixture list in their final five games also does not favour them as they play two of the top five and also face two sides that sit just above them.
I see Maroons losing all four of their opening games when the league resumes before defeating Mbarara City in their penultimate fixture.
Maroons FC final five games
Police FC (A), Kyetume FC (A), URA FC (H), SC Villa (A), Mbarara City FC (H).
Projected final position – 14th
Projected final points tally – 27
Proline FC
Current position – 15th
Points accumulated after 25 rounds – 22
Proine were docked six points earlier in the season for forfeiting a home fixture against SC Villa and it is those points that will surely relegate them.
Add them (points) to their current tally and the Lugogo based side would have been in 13th with 28 points, three away from the drop zone.
Because they choose that path, i think their fate was sealed on that day and i do not see them gathering enough points to attain survival.
They looked to have picked form in their last four games before the break as they lost only once whilst winning twice and drawing the other.
However, i do not think they will win any of their final five games with draws against URA, Mbarara, Wakiso and Busoga compounded with defeat to Onduparaka.
Proline FC final five games
URA FC (H), Onduparaka FC (A), Mbarara City FC (H), Wakiso Giants FC (H), Busoga United FC (A).
Projected final position – 15th
Projected final points tally – 26
Tooro United FC
Current position – 16th
Points accumulated after 25 rounds – 22
What a difference a year makes in football.
Tooro United finished in the top four last season but are now bottom of the standings with just five games to play.
All that started with a change in ownership which resulted into managers, officials and players resigning, sighting unfavourable working conditions.
Upto now, the situation is yet to be resolved and will most definitely not be sorted until the league ends.
With no motivation whatsoever in the camp, i see Tooro losing all their final five games and finishing rock bottom of the pile.
Tooro United final five games
Mbarara City FC (A), Vipers SC (H), Busoga United FC (A), BUL FC (A), Bright Stars FC (H).
Projected final position – 16th
Projected final points tally – 22
