Kisekka injury dwarfs URA victory

Cause For Concern. URA and UPDF medical staff attending to striker Henry Kisekka after he collapased on the Namboole pitch yesterday. PHOTO by Ismail Kezaala

NAMBOOLE. Hadn’t it been the frantic efforts of URA doctor Joseph Lubega and the generosity of UPDF medical staff, striker Henry Kiseka would may be dead by now.
On the day URA delegated their ambulance ‘for other duties’, Kiseka’s life depended on the speed of a mini-van that rushed him to Life Link Clinic in Kyaliwajala after he collapsed unconscious following a 50-50 challenge with a Simba defender – swallowing his tongue in the process.
Back on the field, he was replaced by fellow new signing Denis Kamanzi as the tax collectors tried to recover from the shock.
Right-back Fred Okot broke the deadlock on 45 minutes with a rebound after he caught the visitors’ defence unaware.
URA’s midfield combination of Siraje Sentamu, Shafiq Kagimu, Brian Majwega and Nicholas Kagaba was too much for the Soldiers’ three-man central pack of Herbert Kakande, Sulaiman Majanjalo and Robert Nakyenalire to contain.
And soon ageing striker Bokota Labama was adding URA’s second on 53 minutes – confidently placing Kagaba’s grounded cross from the right wing beyond Harrison Ssempagi in Simba goal.
“If Kiseka had stayed on we would have scored more than two goals. We hope he recovers in time to lead our forward line,” URA head coach Ibrahim Kirya stated.
By the time Walter Rubankene pulled one back for Moses Basena’s side on 78, URA were home and dry – ready to embrace their new table leaders status.
“We were the underdogs and we lost the plot the moment we let in that goal on the stroke of half time.
“We face KCCA next at home on Saturday and by that time we will have addressed our mistakes,” Basena, who had a largely new look side, told Daily Monitor yesterday.
For Kirya, the journey for URA to win their fifth league title moved according to the script.
“We are left with 29 games to go. It wasn’t an easy game but it has helped us test our strengths and weaknesses going into the next game,” Kirya revealed.

Yesterday’s results
URA FC 2-1 UPDF FC Fred Okot 45+1’ Walter Rubankene 77’
Labama Bokota 53’
Brian Majwega 23’ Sula Majanjalo 78’
Denis Kamanzi 69’ Issa Mubiru 84’
Express FC 0-0 Kirinya FC Baker Kasule 74’ Godfrey Akol 44’
Isaac Ntege 69’

TABLE

P W D L F A Ps
URA 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 SC Villa 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 Bright Stars 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 BUL FC 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 Express FC 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 KCCA FC 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 Kirinya Jinja 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 Maroons 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 Mbarara City 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 Onduparaka 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 Proline 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 Vipers 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 Masavu 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Police 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 UPDF 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 Soana 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
NEXT FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Vipers vs BUL
Soana vs Bright Stars

FRIDAY
UPDF vs KCCA FC
Police vs SC Villa
Maroons vs Onduparaka
Mbarara City vs Express
Proline vs Masavu