Prime
Bul, Kitara fight for relevance
Bul midfielder Jerome Kirya (in yellow) keeps the ball from Express defender Isma Kawawulo. PHOTO/EDDIE CHICCO
What you need to know:
At Kavumba, Vipers will hope to continue grinding with more magic from league’s leading scorer Allan Okello.
Bul and Kitara have turned their seasons around after a slow start but catching runaway leaders Vipers remains a daunting task.
The two sides meet Thursday in a crucial Startimes Uganda Premier League clash at Nakivubo knowing that anything less than victory will further dent their already slim hopes of making up ground.
This match was scheduled for Friday in Njeru but due to the ongoing works, was pulled by a day and taken to Hamz Stadium in Nakivubo.
While their recent form has been impressive, they are simply too far behind to be called realistic title contenders.
Best of the rest
Vipers, who travel to Kavumba to face Police this afternoon, lead the table with 43 points, three ahead of Nec and a commanding 14 and 15 clear of third-placed Bul and Kitara in fourth.
The gap in between them relegates Bul and Kitara’s ambitions and immediate focus to securing a strong league position rather than an unlikely title charge but Bul’s head coach Abbey Kikomeko is not giving up yet.
“The league is still open, and we are here to fight,” said.
While both teams will face Vipers later in the season, they must first concentrate on keeping their consistency.
Bul’s resurgence has been fueled by key January reinforcements, particularly the return of striker Karim Ndugw,a who has already scored twice in the three appearances in which they have won.
Kitara maestro Frank Tumwesigye. PHOTO/JOHN BATANUDDE
Kikomeko admitted that the team had been playing well in the first round but struggled to convert chances. Now, with improved finishing and back-to-back wins, his Bul has climbed back to third and hopes to sustain that momentum.
Goal machines
Kitara, on the other hand, has evolved into an attacking powerhouse under Wasswa Bbosa. Known for his defensive discipline, Bbosa has surprisingly turned Kitara into the league’s highest-scoring side with 31 goals.
Their recent 2-0 and 1-0 victories over Soltilo Bright Stars and URA featuring goals from Livin Kabon, Patrick Kaddu and Frank Tumwesigye shows their attacking depth. With 11 different players having scored this season, Kitara has a versatile armory in offense that makes them a difficult team to contain.
The change of venue to a neutral ground in Nakivubo could boost Kitara but Bul showed resilience in pressure matches when playing in unfamiliar settings last season against Vipers to open Namboole.
At Kavumba, Vipers will hope to continue grinding with more magic from league’s leading scorer Allan Okello.
The Venoms hunt against a familiar Cops side who they have beaten in their last eleven consecutive matches.
However, Police has proved a tough nut to crack at their backyard, while they have won only three games this season, they’ve shared spoils in a season’s record 11 matches including six at home.
STARTIMES UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE
Today’s fixtures – 4 pm
Police vs. Vipers - Kavumba
Lugazi vs. Express - Lugazi
Bul vs. Kitara - Nakivubo (7pm)
