SC Villa dictate pace but violence mars UPL action

Express goal-keeping coach Sam Kawalya (pink shirt) steps in to stop the scuffle between veteran journalist Abu Zikusooka (white t-shirt) and the Red Eagles head coach Wasswa Bbosa (C) at the Ssaza Grounds in Mityana on October 17. UPL awarded visitors SC Villa three points and three goals after finding the hosts’ fans guilty of causing the match abandonment. Courtesy photo

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Several incidences of violence marred the week but Express coach Bbosa and veteran journalist Zikusooka should have done better than ‘fight’

KAMPALA

It is always an ugly scenario when football matches are settled in the boardroom.
But SC Villa will have no complaints after the Uganda Premier League (UPL) secretariat ruled in their favour following fans violence that caused the abandonment of their home fixture, late in the second half, against Express at Ssaza Grounds, Mityana.
Coach Sam Ssimbwa’s side were awarded three goals and three points, sending them on top of the table on 13 points, one ahead of second-placed Police; evoking memories of seasons stretching from 2009 to 2011.
Violence also ensued in the match between Lweza and Vipers in Wankulukuku after fans hurled stones at each other moments after the game while Bright Stars veteran Abubaker Tabula received marching orders for attacking a female fan at halftime when the Lugogo-based side hosted Police.

Mixed reactions
This chaos has been received as a show of sheer passion for local football by some stakeholders whereas others see it as just another case of unforgiveable lunacy that should be brought to book. That debate, too, is not about to stop.
On the pitch, KCC’s loss to Sadolin Paints in Bugembe last Friday was the biggest shock of the week while SC Villa’s goalless draw with Bul wasn’t far off.
In the firsts of the season, URA broke their duck against Victoria University in Lugazi thanks to a 69th minute strike from Robert Ssentongo. Sadolin’s win against KCC was also their maiden this term.
Ssentongo’s goal against SCVU was the first the university side were conceding this season in six games while Vipers’ defence was breached for the first time as they drew 2-2 against KCC.

Brian Umony and Brian Majwega showed their worth to the Lugogo-based side when they struck one apiece to secure a point for the defending champions away to in-form Vipers.
Mike Mutyaba, though, hogged the headlines as he made it on the scoresheet for the first time in three years. Mutyaba has been in and out on loan to Vipers since the 2010-2011 season when he moved from then Bunnamwaya to Sudan’s El Merreikh and DRC’s TP Mazembe.
In between he also nursed injuries. The midfielder showed he had temporarily exorcised the demons when he twice leveled the score for Edward Golola’s side.
Mutyaba now joins the long list of players that also has Hassan Wasswa, Mike Sserumaga and Steven Bengo, who have refound their scoring boots in the local league after difficult stints away from home.

Player of the week - Mike Mutyaba
It is hard to look beyond the Vipers midfielder, whose double helped his side secure a point from KCC.

Coach of the week - Kefa Kisala
The Bul and Cranes assistant coach has seen his team go unscathed in three games on the bounce since they lost 1-0 to Paul Nkata’s Kira Young. They’ve managed two draws against the league’s best defences in SCVU and SC Villa. They also secured a vital 1-0 win against Simba.

Regrettable moments - Violence, scuffles and chaos
There are no prizes for rebuking the incidents that happened in Wankulukuku and Mityana but Express coach Wasswa Bbosa and veteran journalist Abu Zikusooka of a local radio station, a Villa diehard, should have known better than involve themselves in a scuffle that aggravated the violence.
Team of the week - 4-5-1
Goalkeeper: Benjamin Ochan (SCVU),
Defenders: Dan Bilikwalira (Vipers), Asuman Bajampola (Bul), Ayub Kisaliita (Lweza), Ibrahim Kiyemba (Lweza),
Midfielders: Patrick Sembuya (Vipers), Farouk Osama (Bul), Steven Bengo (SC Villa), Mike Mutyaba (Vipers), Julius Mutyaba (Lweza)
Strikers: Umar Kasumba (Police).