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Uganda Cranes were 3-2 winners over Uganda Premier League side Wakiso Giants in a friendly match on Saturday.
The outfit is preparing for an upcoming regional tour and Uzbekistan invitational tournament and their drills bore success at the Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium in Wakiso district.
The national team drew first blood with Rogers Mato’s header past goalkeeper Derrick Emukule off Herbert Achai’s assist.
Wakiso Giants levelled matters in the 16th minute through Ibrahim Kasule’s bouncing header off a Joshua Lubwama inviting ball.
Ukraine based forward Miya restored the Cranes lead from the spot after Lubwama brought down Martin Kizza.
Kasule rounded off custodian Charles Lukwago with a couple of minutes to half time to again restore parity.
FUFA Big League leading scorer Ezra Kaye scored the winner for the Cranes when he brushed in a James Begisa’s well-weighted cross.
Uganda Cranes Starting Line Up
Charles Lukwago, Gavin Kizito, Hebert Achai, Najib Fesali, Kenneth Semakula, George Kasonko, Rogers Mato, Pius Akena, Patrick Kaddu, Farouk Miya, Martin Kizza
Other Substitutions
Benjamin Ochan, James Begisa, Bright Vuni, Ibrahim Juma, Moses Aliro, Marvin Joseph Youngman, Richard Basangwa, Muhammad Senoga, Richard Basangwa, Alfred Leku, Hassan Jurua, Edward Satro, Muhammad Shaban
Motherwell’s Bevis Mugabi will be released for Uganda Cranes activity in a friendly tournament in Uzbekistan.
The star has been a revelation this season with good performances this season, signing a new deal earlier this year until 2024 as a mark of his progress.
The Cranes will play in a small friendly tournament in Uzbekistan that will start on March 25th and finishes up on March 29th.
Uganda will take on Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgz Republic during their engagements in the country.
The defender will link up with Uganda Cranes after starting preparations with a win over Uganda Premier League side Wakiso Giants.
BUL Football Club returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Tooro United at the Kyabazinga Stadium on Friday.
A goal each from Simon Peter Oketch and Ibrahim Nsimbe ensured the Eastern Giants pick all points in front of their fans.
BUL started the game brightly with Kenneth Lukyamuzi keeping out Ibrahim Kazindula’s effort saved early in the game.
Karim Ndugwa came close but his effort went just wide as BUL pilled up the pressure but couldn’t find the breakthrough in the opening half.
After the break, Oketch poked home Karim Ndugwa’s cross to hand the hosts the lead four minutes into the second half.
Nsimbe put the game to bed with six minutes to play as BUL ended a poor run of five games.
The win lifts BUL to 5th place on the log with 36 points from 21 matches while Tooro United stay rooted at the bottom with just 12 points.
Next Up
BUL visits Busoga United while Tooro United welcomes Arua Hill to Buhinga.
Starting XIs
BUL FC: John Okurut (GK), Douglas Muganga, Walter Ochora, Richard Ayiko, George Kasonko, Ibrahim Kazindula, Simon Oketch, Reagan Kalyowa, Martin Aprem, Karim Ndugwa, Ibrahim Nsimbe.
Tooro United: Simon Mawiya(GK), Gerald Lubanjwa, Rashid Lubega, Musa Docca, Adrian Sserugo, Apollo Kagogwe, Hussein Mwanje, Mohammad Ssenoga, Isaac Mpagi, Mark Nsubuga, Mohammed Nsereko.
KCCA Football Club missed an opportunity to go top of the Uganda Premier League as they were held to 1-1 by Police FC on Tuesday.
With table-topping Vipers not in action until Wednesday, a win for KCCA at the MTN Omondi Stadium would have seen go a point at the top of the log.
However, Ashraf Mugume’s superb freekick inside five minutes was canceled by Juma Balinya who pounced on a poor clearance by goalie Benjamin Ochan to earn a penalty that he converted.
KCCA wasted a number of goalscoring opportunities with Davis Kasirye who is yet to score this year missing a couple of chances in the opening half. He blasted over the bar after he was set up by Patrick Kaddu and also headed wide.
Rogers Mato headed Brian Majwega’scross over the bar while Sadat Anaku fired wide and Kaddu’s header was collected by Tom Ikara as KCCA created one chance after another.
Mugume had a goal-bound effort deflected wide while Erisa Sekisambu could not find the target from a good position.
KCCA’s last three games have all ended in draws. They move to 42 points, one behind Vipers who host Busoga United on Wednesday.
On the other hand, Police climb into 9th with 23 points from 21 games.
Next Up
Police will be away to Gaddafi FC on Saturday, March 26 while KCCA host Vipers on the same day.
Starting XIs
Police FC: Ikara Tom (GK), Sentume Joseph Yawe, Ssozi Yusuf, Kimera Nicholas Ruben, Kayongo Samuel, Semugera Misi Diego, Mugume Emmanuel, Senjobe Eric, Balinya Juma, Kiryowa George, Kalanda Frank.
KCCA FC: Benjamin Ochan (GK), Denis Iguma, Herbert Achai, Hassan Jurua, Innocent Wafula, Ashraf Mugume, Arafat Usama, Brian Majwega, Davis Kasirye, Patrick Kaddu, Sadat Anaku.
Uganda Cranes Regional Tours are set to resume this weekend with a trip to Mityana for a match against Buganda Region Select side at the Ssaza Grounds.
Uganda Cranes coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has named a 26-man squad for the match to be played on Sunday, 20th March 2022.
The squad has three foreign-based players in goalkeeper Charles Lukwago, Faruku Miya, and Chris Akena. The three players are in the country and have been undergoing privately organised training sessions.
Micho has also included Impala Hills midfielder Bruno Bunyaga who has been turning out for Buddu in the just concluded Masaza Cup.
The Squad
Goalkeepers: Lukwago Charles (St George FC, Ethiopia), Alionzi Nafian (URA FC), Komakech Jack (Vipers SC)
Defenders: Begisa James (UPDF FC), Jurua Hassan (KCCA FC), Kayondo Azizi (Vipers Sc), Juma Ibrahim (KCCA FC), Najib Fesali (URA FC), Satulo Edward (Wakiso Giants FC), Olouch Bob (Vipers SC), Mukundane Hillary (Vipers SC), Kizito Gavin (SC Villa), Semakula Keneth (SC Villa)
Midfielders: Kasonko George (BUL FC), Youngman Marvin (Soltilo Bright Stars FC), Yiga Najib (Vipers SC), Akena Chris (Unattached), Mutyaba Travis (SC Villa), Bunyaga Bruno (Impala Hills FC, Buddu Masaza Team), Ssematimba Titus (Wakiso Giants FC), Mawa Oscar (SC Villa), Kizza Martin (Express FC)
Strikers: Miya Faruku (Lviv, Ukraine), Basangwa Richard (Gaddafi FC), Leku Alfred (Arua Hills SC), Shaban Muhammad (Onduparaka FC)
Ugandan defender Bevis Mugabi is expected to return to the fray for Motherwell after he was left on bench against Dundee last weekend.
Motherwell face Hibernian in the Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday, with hope the Steelmen can hold on to reach a first final since appearing in both cup finals in 2017/18.
According to 101greatgoals, the “Ugandan could return at centre-back, in place of either Sondre Solholm Johansen or Juhani Ojala.”
Mugabi has featured in 58 league games for Motherwell since he joined the side. He has scored a total of 4 goals in the same competition.
He last featured for Uganda Cranes against Mali in a 2022 World Cup qualifier match. Kalifa Coulibaly’s goal in the 14th minute was the difference in the 1-0 loss.
British Ugandan footballer Anthony Uchechukwu Mubiru feels there is something special about Cardiff since he started playing on loan for them from Middlesbrough.
Uche has been a revelation to the club since joining at the start of the year. He has scored 3 goals in 8 appearances at the club.
Speaking about Cardiff, Uche revealed he had been on the radar of another club but when he got informed of the former’s interest, he didn’t think twice.
“I think what makes Cardiff City special is it’s a club that really supports its players,” he told Cardiff City Forum.
“You see the fanbase, even when I trained, so many welcoming messages. Even when I was at Wycombe I used to have fans in my DMs telling me to come!
“I noticed at the time it didn’t materialise when I thought it might have. It’s a club that I wanted to join and I remember on deadline day there was another club I was potentially going to join
“As soon as my agent called and said ‘Cardiff want to take you on loan’ I said ‘I’m going to that club, I’m going to Cardiff’.
“There is something about the club which is special to me, always wanted to be apart of. I’m glad the gaffer brought me.”
Ikpeazu was called up to the Uganda squad by Northern Irish head coach Johnathan McKinstry for two 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches in March 2020, but the games were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda.
Uganda Premier League leaders Vipers Sports Club suffered their third defeat of the season, losing 1-0 to Tooro United at Buhinga Stadium in Fort Portal.
Substitute Mark Nsubuga’s strike in79th minute was all the hosts needed to maintain their unbeaten run at home since the start of the second round.
It was Tooro United’s third win of the season but their first against Vipers.
Milton Karisa and Ceasar Manzoki came close for the visitors in the opening half while Isaac Mpagi was guilty of missing a glorious opportunity for Tooro United.
Bright Anukani had the first chance of the second half but couldn’t find the target with his effort from close range.
The game’s defining moment arrived when Muhammad Senoga ran through Vipers’ defense before setting up Nsubuga to fire the hosts into the lead.
Denis Mwemezi fluffed a chance to draw Vipers level in the 89th minute as Tooro United held on for maximum points.
Despite the result, neither team changed position on the log, with Vipers staying top and Tooro United bottom.
Team Lineups
Tooro United XI: Simon Mabuya, Apollo Kagogwe, Rashid Lubega, Musa Doca, Adrine Sserugo, Ronald Kayondo, Mohammed Nsereko, Martin Arinaitwe, Ronald Magwali, Mohammed Ssenoga, Isaac Mpagi.
Substitutes: Kenneth Lukyamuzi, Gerald Lubanjwa, Edward Kawooya, Rogers Murungi, Isiah Sabiiti, Abdul Lukwata, Mark Nsubuga
Vipers XI: Fabien Mutombora, Emmanuel Munoobi, Disan Galiwango, Livingston Mulondo, Halid Lwaliwa, Siraje Sentamu, Milton Karisa, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Yunus Sentamu, Cesor Manzoki, Najib Yiga.
Substitutes: Jack Komakech, Hilary Mukundane, Musa Ssali, Bright Anukani, Dan Sserunkuma, Denis Mwemezi, Karim Watambala.
Vipers Sports Club will be without defender Paul Willa for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
The right back suffered an injury to his tendon after the StarTimes Uganda Premier League match against Soltilo Bright Stars FC on Wednesday, March 2nd at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
The club announced the player underwent surgery that will keep him out of action for at least three months
“Paul Willa has had successful surgery on his left Achilles tendon and will be out for approximately two to three months,” the club said in a statement.
“Willa will now commence his injury rehabilitation programme with the Vipers medical team.
“Everyone at the club wishes the assistant captain a speedy recovery and looks forward to seeing him back on the pitch as soon as possible.”
It will be a clash of top versus bottom in the Uganda Premier League at Buhinga Stadium on Friday as leaders Vipers take on Tooro United.
The Venoms found Tooro United a hard nut to crack in the reverse fixture winning through a solitary Ceaser Manzoki goal and have to be better if they are to leave Fort Portal with maximum points.
They head into the game on the back of a 2-1 win over Soltilo Bright Stars while Tooro United lost 4-2 to Police in their last outing.
Robert Oliviera, the head coach of Vipers, will miss the services of full-back Paul Willa but Manzoki, Yunus Sentamu, and Milton Karisa who have been the key men up front are available.
Tooro United will rely on Ronald Magwali, Muhammad Kagawa Ssenoga, and Abdul Noor Lukwata for inspiration in front of home fans.
A win for Vipers will see them open a six-point gap at the top of the standings.
The last 14 meetings between the sides have ended in 10 wins for Vipers with four matches ending in draws.