Express seek bragging rights from surprise leaders SC Villa
Villa midfielder Kalyowa will run into experienced Express captain Galiwago. PHOTOS: EDDIE CHICCO & JOHN BATANUDDE
KAMPALA- Fallen giants Express and SC Villa have had little to play for over the past two seasons as evidenced by their 10th and 12th place finishes from last season’s StarTimes Uganda Premier League.
A win for one rival club over another is consequently one of the highlights for the two sets of fans.
That pride should again be at stake when the two clubs clash at Betway Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku this evening.
Villa, who this week named Shawn Mubiru as new Chief Executive Officer, arrive as surprise leaders having been awarded three points from yesterday’s ruling after Proline failed to honour the fixture between the two teams.
The result moved them to seven points from four games after Tuesday’s 1-all draw with Police and the 3-1 win over Mbarara that followed the opening day loss to Kyetume.
In that sequence, Villa have oscillated between the sublime and ridiculous with their stalemate against Police perhaps the true measure of their strength.
Ambrose Kirya, David Owori, Emmanuel Kalyowa, Albert Mugisa and Amir Kakomo remain as good as any midfield quintet in the league on their day. It remains to be seen however if coaches Edward Kaziba and Ibrahim Kirya can get more consistency out of them.
Express on the other hand are equally buoyant having picked up their first three points of the season in the 3-2 win over Mbarara this week. Captain Dissan Galilwango is the man who will be tasked to make things happen for the 12th placed Red Eagles.
His crossing, running and shooting saw him involved in all three of the team’s goals that helped ease the pressure on coach George Ssimwogerere, who had seen his side lose twice and draw their opening three games.
At Namboole, Tooro play the first of two games against URA without the trio of Godfrey Lwesibawa, Ibrahim Kayiwa and Paddy Muhumuza, who were suspended for attacking referee Brian Nsubuga in their 1-0 loss to Vipers.
Elsewhere, the Fufa Competitions Disciplinary Panel (CDP) handed the Uganda Cup and Fufa Big League champions Proline a six-point deduction penalty and Shs5m fine for forfeiting last Saturday’s scheduled league clash against SC Villa at Lugogo.
“We are appealing the entire decision because they are quoting their rules in part. We shall not rest until they show us the upgrades in the rules,” Proline CEO William Bakkabulindi told Daily Monitor yesterday.
