UFL: UCU, St. Lawrence braced for ‘unique’ final

St. Lawrence’s Nkonge Baziri and UCU’s Joseph Kakembo (R) lock horns in an epic University Football League final at Lugogo today. PHOTOS BY ISMAIL KEZAALA

What you need to know:

  • UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL LEAGUE. Chairman Vincent Kisenyi said the grand final was unique considering the journey of both teams with this being only St. Lawrence’s third season in the tourney.

A new name will be inscribed on the University Football League (UFL) trophy at the end of the game between Uganda Christian University (UCU) and St.

Lawrence University (SLAU) at Lugogo this evening.
The two teams have never reached the final with UCU previously not going past the quarterfinal stage while St Lawrence were beaten in the semifinals last season.

Chairman Vincent Kisenyi referred to it as unique considering the journey of both teams with this being only St. Lawrence’s third season in the competition.
“We know how far we have come and we are underdogs but we will compete,” coach Nono Ssozi remarked.

Road to the final
St Lawrence are in their first final after eclipsing the semifinal stage they managed last season.
They progressed 3-2 in another shootout to dump 2017 champions Uganda Martyrs University out of the tournament.

“We believe this is our time. Actually if we do not this time we might even never win it,” said St Lawrence captain Ibrahim Kasule.
They play a UCU team that equally believe this is their year after breaking their quarter final hoodoo.

Like their opponents, they reached the finals through penalties with captain Derrick Were the hero after saving two spot kicks and scoring the final one.

UCU edged the first leg of the semifinals 2-1 in Mukono before Bugema pulled off a similar scoreline in the return leg to set the stage for Were’s heroics.
“The team that will fight for it most will win,” UCU coach Kintu Mwera opined.