Leaders KCCA, Vipers continue title charge
Onduparaka’s Ayiko brings down KCCA’s Kyambadde (L) in the area - a moment that left match referee Ssali no option but to award KCCA a penalty which won them the match yesterday.PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO
KAMPALA- KCCA assistant coach Morley Byekwaso had warned it would not be an easy meeting between the table leaders and Onduparaka and it showed in the end as the 12-time league winners just edged it.
From a 7-0 humiliation at StarTimes Stadium (Lugogo) in Onduparaka’s Uganda Premier League (UPL) debut season some three years ago, to 4-1, and now 1-0 last evening, thanks to Patrick Kaddu’s second half penalty, the West Nilers have markedly closed the gap.
This was on the same evening Vipers’ slow but steady revival under Kenyan coach Michael Ouma and his Ugandan helper Edward Golola continued, the reigning champions edging Nyamityobora by the same 1-0 scoreline in Mbarara.
Vipers’ January import from Kenya Innocent Wafula scored the game’s only goal on 14 minutes to ensure the Venoms stayed within three points of KCCA, who hit the 40-point mark after 17 matches.
Midfield battle
At Lugogo, it was a game any side could have won, with Abel Eturude and second half substitute Gadaffi Gadinho giving a Nicholas Kasozi and Muzamiru Mutyaba midfield a lot to think about.
The first real scare for the hosts at the fairly attended game - by the fixture’s standards - was when Onduparaka livewire Viane Sekajugo beat his man to cross for Nicholas Kagaba but the forward failed to connect with goalkeeper Charles Lukwago beaten.
Allan Okello, his namesake Kyambadde and Julius Poloto probed the other end, with returning Mustafa Kizza’s tricky balls from the left teasing the visitors defence but nothing was going to give in the first half.
The camel’s back was, however, finally broken; a quick KCCA interplay ending on the feet of Kyambadde, the forward inviting Richard Ayiko into a foul leaving referee Mashood Ssali no other option but point to the spot.
Kaddu precision
Hungry as ever, striker Kaddu waved Kizza away to dispatch the spot kick himself that went in off goalkeeper Nicholas Sebwato’s trying gloves for the winner on 63 minutes. Caesar Okhuti, Gadinho, Sekajugo and Faizul Ibrahim all came close for the visitors late on but KCCA held on to stay in control of the title charge.
“It was tough,” admitted KCCA coach Byekwaso.
“It is going to be more like this now that we are in the second round.
“There will be phases where we shall play under pressure but it’s good we showed our character and managed to win.”
Elsewhere, third-placed Mbarara City moved to 32 points after seeing off Maroons 2-0 thanks to Makweuth Wol and Ivan Eyam goals.
SUPL - YESTERDAY’S RESULTS
KCCA 1-0 Onduparaka
Maroons 0-2 Mbarara City
Kirinya Jinja 1-1 Tooro United
Nyamityobora 0-1 Vipers
Paidha B.A 1-1 Bul
Ndejje University 1-2 URA
