Chaos at Wankulukuku as league derby aborts again

Kampala.

Erisa Ssekisambu had toiled with the guilt of missing a free header earlier when Augustine Nsumba’s replacement, Gary Moses, crossed from the right.

But moments later, Ssekisambu – after an emphatic left foot finish to the bottom right corner - was carrying the ball from Express goalkeeper Ivan Mutumba’s net to the centre circle for restart; scores at Wankulukuku reading Express 1-1 SC Villa on Friday evening.

From the centre circle, the ball only moved as far as referee Rajab Bakasambe’s hands. Time check; 83 minutes. Game over. The goal had cancelled out the impressive John Ssemazzi’s 51st minute lead when the Express striker raced clear for 45m from a seemingly offside position, according to Villa coach Sam Ssimbwa, to definitively thump it past Nicholas Ssebwato into the top right corner.

Long before Ssekisambu intervened, objects had been thrown in Derrick Walulya’s way after the Villa defender hacked down an Express player but went unpunished. An intense aura had also gripped the atmosphere after Bakasambe had shown Express’ Ibrahim Kayiwa a second yellow card for apparent time wasting as the player sagged off on 78 minutes to be replaced.

Kayiwa had picked his first yellow when he fouled Isaac Muleme. So by the time Ssekisambu’s goal came, the home fans had had enough.

Just like in the first round encounter in Mityana, where the game was abandoned with Villa leading 2-1, stones arrived from the Express end, and some were returned from the Blues. The bangs on the roof of the pavilion made punctuated sounds, with several other missiles finding their way onto the pitch. Match officials, players and technical benches sought refuge at the centre of the pitch.

Spectators from the pavilion joined them, plastic seats over their heads. As the Villa faithful sung away in their section, occasionally returning stones to the red end, police watched – patiently. Only six policemen were inside the fenced arena, with a handful others outside.

But soon, police swung into gear, firing a few live bullets in air and some rounds of tear gas to disperse the mainly rowdy Express fans.

More missiles
The Red Army, not to be outdone, launched more missiles as they retreated. Soon they were gone. All this inside 20-30 minutes! Similar events in Mityana saw the UPL evoke Article 32(1) of Fufa Competitions Rules 2014/2015, which states that “For the first occurrence of an offence, the fine shall be equal to 1.0 x fine stipulated,” to deduct three points from Express and award three and as many goals to Villa.

“We had the momentum when we scored and we wanted three points,” said Villa coach Ssimbwa, “Express were tired and were there for the taking. “But still, I know I have the three points and three goals. Express abandoned the game, we didn’t.”

Ssimbwa’s counterpart, Wasswa Bbosa, could not contend with the refereeing. “My player (Kayiwa) told me he was sick and wanted me to substitute him, that’s why he was talking time to walk off,” he said.

“But even if it was the case (wasting time), the referee could stop his clock and urge the player off. This was a tense match and the referee should have applied common sense. We have all played football and we know that. “First he denied us a clear cut penalty in the first half when Musa Docca handled in the box (off a Bakaki Shafique corner).”

UPL RESULTS, FRIDAY
Bul Bidco 1–2 SCVU
Police 2–1 Bright Stars
URA 1–0 Simba
Vipers 1–1 Soana

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