Villa, URA set for showdown
Fast-rising Lincoln Mukisa weaves his way past defenders against URA during the UPL last season. PHOTO BY
EDDIE CHICCO
Both SC Villa and URA are desperate to get back to winning ways when the two meet at Maroons Prisons Ground in Luzira this evening.
The two capture imagination mainly because of their past successes, and perhaps because they are the only fixture in Kampala today.
Second-placed Bul are the only ones with a chance to cut StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) table leaders, Vipers SC’s lead to one point if they beat Kyetume at Fufa Technical Centre, Njeru.
Yet there is still not denying that 16-time record champions, SC Villa, still command the most following, and for that, their game against URA inevitably makes the news.
For starters, the game struggled to get a venue until late.
Heavy rains, coupled with the Masaza Cup final at the weekend had left Namboole almost unplayable, forcing stadium management to temporarily close it off to allow recovery.
As hosts, Villa rushed to KCCA who, according to the club CEO Shawn Mubiru, initially accepted to host the match only to change their mind hours later.
A quick dash to Maroons and Luzira was availed, and the game will now take place.
Both Villa and URA are quite off the pace, but it is coach Edward Kaziba’s Jogoos that still command higher power to shove with title contenders.
Should they outsmart coach Sam Ssimbwa’s URA today, they will displace third-placed Onduparaka on goal difference. Onduparaka have 19 points.
“At the start of the season we had many problems like delayed player registration,” Kaziba told Daily Monitor, “But all that was sorted and now the boys are doing their best.
“We look at the table and we are happy but we want to continue pushing upward and this game against URA is a good opportunity.”
Kaziba hopes David Owori and Ambrose Kirya, two goals apiece so far, come to the fore again.
Villa have won four and lost one of the nine games played this season so far, while 10th-placed URA have won two and lost as many in eight.
Both teams drew goalless their previous matches against Maroons and Mbarara City.
Ashraf Mandela, a Villa old boy, says this is an opportunity to turn the tide.
“Huge task tomorrow but we are up to it,” he said, “Bring it on.”
URA midfielder Hassan Kalega says “Villa are playing really well, getting a lot of “It will be a tough game, so we need to play with character.”
In the east, coach Peter Onen will expect his boys to bounce back against Kyetume following a draw with Bright Stars on Tuesday.
