Beaten Red Eagles in Express ticketing as Nkata talks big

Kampala/Mityana- Express may have escaped taxation on gate collections after their 2-0 Uganda Premier League (UPL) home defeat to Kira Young on Friday.

But once action got underway at Wankulukuku, the Red Eagles could not evade the footballing tax.

Although the country’s official tax collectors, URA, were also fighting for their own life in Lugazi, it was Kira doing the collections here; two well-taken second half goals from Brian Nkuubi and substitute Bright Haguma rubber-stamping a 2-0 win over Express.

The stadium stamp on ‘tickets’ was also valid. But it was the piece of paper Express officials managed to convince every fan entering that it was a ticket that bemused many.
It was an embarrassing position every Express fan – those at Wankulukuku and those that followed a picture our reporter tweeted of an ugly piece of white paper, that they will want to forget pretty fast.

That paper, which had the stadium stamp and entrance fee of Shs5,000 inscribed in blue ink, seemed to have been plucked from an exercise book or a ruled ream. Express team manager Abdu Kinobe unattractively argued that “we thought the league organizers would print for us tickets like they did when SuperSport first showed the games,” which further tells most of our clubs intellect and the people in charge.

On the day, only Express could pull this off. It was Express ticketing. Kinobe, however, promised it would not happen again.

But it was not all gloom as the topflight league returned in seemingly united credibility. Dismissed in early days of his rather controversial SC Villa presidency, Ben Misagga’s Jogoos continued the hyped pre-season build-up by launching custom-made mineral water for the club at half time. About 1000 Villa fans, most traveling from Kampala, watched the game.

The 16-time league champions were hardly impressive in play, albeit, creating the better chances at their new home in Mityana. But they still gritted out a 1-0 victory thanks to Karim Ndugwa’s 25th minute strike.

Police were the day’s biggest winners, thumping newcomers Rwenshama 3-0 to assume table leadership one three points.
Kira are second with the same points while their victims Express are second from bottom. Umar Kasumba’s first half brace and a Rogers Aloro own goal on 81 minutes made sure of Police’s emphatic victory.

Kira coach Paul Nkata was bullish after the match. “This is a signal to other teams that if they take us lightly, they will regret,” he said, “But my players should not get carried away.”

Express’ Wasswa Bbosa said: We were not effective today. We are disappointed but will have to improve in the next game.”

Uganda Premier League Results

Bul 1-1 Sadolin Paints
Express 0-2 Kira Young
URA 1-1 Bright Stars
Police 3-0 Rwenshama
SC Villa 1-0 Soana