Derby day in Mbarara

Kampala. Mbarara town, never short of happening life and the endowed, curvy type, is the place to be this weekend.
Before the speedy machines rev off in the city suburbs in the the Mbarara rally, the first ever ‘Mbarara derby’ in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League will be held at Kakyeka Stadium this afternoon in what can pass for battle for pride.
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since the two sides first clashed on ‘foreign territory’ (Wankulukuku stadium) on October 24 as Kakyeka underwent a mini rehabilitation.
Nyamityobora, then under James Odoch, stunned Livingstone Mbabazi’s Mbarara City 2-1 before going on losing streak that has seen them occupy the red zone for larger parts of the season.
On the contrary, the loss must have served as a rude awakening to Mbarara City who have since climbed third on the table, returned to make Kakyeka a fortress and are not afraid to have a title talk in their corridors.
Asaph Mwebaze will hope Nyamityobora hastily recovers from their last league home 1-0 loss to Vipers and that forwards Damien Nakalema and Juma Dada can rediscover the proficiency they employed in the 4-1 demolition of Police a fortnight ago.
Mbarara City’s 2-0 victory over wobbly Maroons brought them with eight points of leaders KCCA with Mbabazi promising to take every game as it comes.
Mbabazi will bank on a telepathic midfield of Pistis Barenge, Steven Kabuye, Ivan Eyam and Paul Mucureezi that supplies ammunition to forwards Makueth Wol and Ibrahim Orit.
At Namboole, URA stand-in coach George William Lutalo will be plotting for reeling Maroons after welcoming back goalkeeper James Alitho and midfielder Shafiq Kagimu.
URA has embraced an upward trajectory even in the absence of suspended coach Sam Ssimbwa but Lutalo believes the pressure still exists.
“The pressure to perform well is still there. We have worked on the mistakes we made in the last game and we believe we shall get victory,” Lutalo revealed.

Today’s games
*URA vs Maroons
– Namboole, 4pm
Live on Sanyuka TV
*Mbarara City vs Nyamityobora
– Kakyeka Stadium, 4:30pm