Keeper Kimera frustrates KCCA, Kayiwa stars in Red Eagles win

Kampala. It was an interesting source for plaudits at Lugogo as Ali Kimera almost single-handedly subjected 10-man KCCA to their second draw in five matches for Mbarara City to leave the StarTimes Stadium with a valuable point.
At rivals Express in Wankulukuku, it was Ibrahim Kayiwa for the headlines as the Red Eagles claimed maximum points against Tooro United last evening.
Kayiwa was at the end of a beautiful move involving Disan Galiwango, Eric Kambale and Tony Odur; the forward brilliantly beating Meddie Kibirige for a 2-0 lead over the visitors.
Tooro had started rather jittery on a heavy, slow, and slippery pitch and Express did not wait long to orient them, creator of Kayiwa’s goal - Kambale, opening the scoring in the third minute.
Express held onto their bounty in the second half, coach Kefa Kisala’s men claiming their second victory of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) lto move two up to sixth on eight points.
Tooro, who host their first home game in earnest against Onduparaka on Saturday, drop two to 12th with just four points.
But it is at Lugogo that one man, almost single-handedly, denied 12-time champions, KCCA, victory on a day Mbarara’s Paul Mucureezi returned to the former champions since moving during offseason.
Mbarara were out-rightly the better team in the first half, Mucureezi drawing a fine save from KCCA goalkeeper Charles Lukwago, and Mustafa Kizza also connecting with his weaker right foot for Kimera to tip over the other end.
The hosts, KCCA, returned from the break like a wounded animal but a combination of the brilliantly solid Hillary Mukundane in Mbarara central defence and flawless Kimera were on hand to stop everything their way.
Mukundane cleared and intercepted everything not Mbarara, and when he didn’t, Kimera was in the way of substitutes Allan Kyambadde and Musa Esenu, Allan Okello, Patrick Kaddu, Nicholas Kasozi and Julius Poloto’s endeavours.
Kimera was so good he must have saved from every KCCA player.
The visitors, with their coach Livingstone Mbabazi endlessly pacing the touchline, had their chances too, including hitting the upright, Karim Ndugwa missing a sitter and the striker forcing a fine save from Lukwago at near-post.
Muzureezi – with the clock ticking on the added six minutes - had a chance to timely punish his former employers after he was brought down by Hassan Jurua.

The young KCCA defender was immediately sent off as this was his second yellow card.
But Mucureezi’s resultant free-kick was acrobatically tipped over by an impressive Lukwago for the two teams to settle for a point each.
“They made it very difficult for us,” admitted KCCA coach Mike Mutebi, “They are a very organised side the result is fair.”
Mbarara assistant coach Richard Kasule was content. “A point against the former champions is a very crucial point for us. It’s worth the long journey here.”
KCCA remain second on 11 points, two behind Vipers, who they face on Saturday, while Mbarara drop one to eighth on seven points.