• Uganda Premier League | Results
• Tuesday, October 3, 2023
• Mbarara City 0-0 Vipers SC

Vipers SC and Mbarara City played to a goalless draw in the Uganda Premier League on Tuesday at Kakyeka Stadium, Mbarara.

The defending champions Vipers SC lost their 100% winning run after dropping two points on a bumpy ground that made it hard for either side to play.

It was an encounter that didn’t have any major highlights for the fans.

In the fourth minute, Vipers defender Patrick Mbowa pulled back Henry Kitegenyi who was on his way to the goal in what was a clear goal-scoring opportunity but the centre referee chose to book him than send him off.

Mbarara captain Joseph Akandwanaho stood behind the ball in two freekicks but the resultant efforts were so disappointing.

As the first half clocked to half the half-hour mark, Pius Kagwa was calmly set up by Akandwanaho but the forward’s end product put a good ball to waste.

In the 35th minute, Bright Anukani was forced off the pitch to be replaced by Marvin Youngman due to an injury.

Later in the second half, there was nothing much to point out as both sides fired blanks.

The point takes Vipers SC to seven points after two earlier back-to-back victories against Gaddafi FC and Arua Hill SC.

While Mbarara City will have mixed feelings having found chances but could not just guide the ball into the net. It is their second successive draw after NEC FC beat them on Matchday One.

Next, Mbarara will be away to Busoga United on Thursday, October 19 while Vipers host SC Villa on Friday, October 20.

How they lined up

Mbarara City XI: Ronald Mutebi (GK), Innocent Wafula, Henry Musisi, Karim Ramathan, Bakali Magumba, Francis Odongo, Yunus Sibira, Hussein Mwanje, Henry Kitegenyi, Joseph Akandwanaho, Pius Kaggwa

Vipers SC XI: Jack Komakech (GK), Ashraf Mandela, Patrick Mbowa, Livingston Mulondo, Richard Matovu, Siraje Sentamu, Abubakar Lawal, Bright Anukani, Yunus Sentamu, Milton Karisa, Muhammed Salem

• Uganda Premier League | Fixture
• Tuesday, October 3, 2023
• Mbarara City vs Vipers SC

After winning the two opening games, Vipers seek to keep the momentum upward as they play Mbarara City FC.

The two sides will meet on Tuesday, October 3 in the Uganda Premier League at Kakyeka Stadium, Mbarara.

Vipers SC head coach Leonard Neiva expects a tough duel against the Ankole Lions but he adds his troops are ready for the assignment.

“It’s going to be a battle. We need to be at our best mentally and physically to seal a positive result,“ he said.

“We know how they play because I watched the game when they played Express FC. So, it’s going to be a challenge. We have to be at our best again to collect the win,” he added.

“They have good offensive players and strong defenders. We have to be aware of the quick transitions so as to keep our goal area safe.”

The last time Vipers faced Mbarara at home, they won 2-1 in a game that slowed due to poor weather.

Mbarara will equally fight for the victory since they have managed just a point out of the two games played against NEC FC and Express FC.

Uganda Premier League Mbarara City will host their league games at Kakyeka Stadium.

The earlier communication from the league secretariat indicated that Mbarara City would host their games from Bombo Barracks, but that has since changed.

It will be great news to the newly promoted side who will be hosting their games from the den.

According to the letter, UPL CEO Benard Bainamani confirmed the new development.

“The secretariat is in receipt of a letter from FUFA indicating that Kakyeka Stadium has been approved to host the Uganda Premier League matches for 2023/24 season,” the document partly read.

“Accordingly, Mbarara City FC home matches will now be hosted at Kakyeka Stadium,” it added.

In the recent campaigns, Kakyeka has been a hard place for visiting sides which is a positive for Mbarara City who are assured of support from the home crowd.

On Friday, September 15, Mbarara will be hosting NEC FC as the 2023/24 league finally gets underway.

Sadiq Sempigi announced that he is leaving the role of head coach at Mbarara City FC after helping the side get promoted back to Uganda Premier League.

“I want to say it’s great honour serving you (Mbarara City),” a tweet posted by Sempigi partly read.

“Everything was a challenge, we fought to the last man. We fought until the last minute. We fought our repetition. I take much experience and I wish the club all the best in the top tier,” it added.

It’s still not confirmed why Sempigi has walked out of the den after achieving his promise of guiding the club back to top-tier football after a busy campaign.

Sempigi had great work with Ankole Lions finishing second on the FUFA Big League log after gathering 10 wins, 10 draws with one defeat.

The gaffer will be at the helm of the Bulemezi technical team ahead of the Masaza Cup season as he awaits his next assignment.

The head coach role at Mbarara remains vacant and the club will have an assignment to fill the seat.

Thursday, May 18

FUFA Big League | Fixtures

• Kitara FC vs Kaaro Karungi
• Mbarara City vs Northern Gateway
• Kataka FC vs NEC FC
• Police FC vs Jinja North
• Luwero United vs Adjumani TC
• Kyetume FC vs Soroti City FC
• Calvary FC vs Lugazi FC
• Ndejje University vs Booma FC

As the FUFA Big League hits the final day, there will be much to play for as different teams will be struggling to stage a perfect stage.

With Kitara FC and Mbarara FC claiming promotion spots last week, they will take the title race to the wire.

At 58 points and 57 respectively, Kitara FC and Mbarara, both still have a chance to win the title of the closing champions.

The Royals will be hosting Kaaro Karungi at Kigaaya Primary School and they will have to claim the maximum points to clinch the overall prize.

While the Ankole Lions will have to beat Northern Gateway and also pray that Kitara does not win if they are to be announced champions.

NEC and Police will also have another tug of war to decide who takes the third position and conclude the trio that will be playing next year’s Uganda Premier League.

NEC and Police are currently third and fourth at 54 and 53 points respectively.

NEC will be away from home to play tricky Kataka FC which they have to beat if they are to seal their fate on the right side of the log.

While Police will be at Kavumba Recreational Grounds playing against Jinja North. The Cops will go all the way to bag three points and pray that NEC fumbles in Mbale.

There is no battle at the bottom as Soroti City FC, Luweero United, Adjumani TC and Northern Gateway have already been relegated.

F𝐮𝐥𝐥-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 | It’s all over at Kakyeka Stadium, as Mbarara City and Express FC have played out a goalless draw. MBAEXP | 0-0 |

88′ | Enoch Walusimbi cleared a goal bound effort off the line while George Ssenkaaba thought he had scored for Express but it was called back for a foul. MBAEXP | 0-0 |

75’ | Fifteen minutes left on the match. It is still goalless between the two teams. There are positive signs that we could see a goal between now and the full-time whistle. MBAEXP | 0-0 |

70’ | The Ankole Lions are pressing on and are trying to take advantage of the fact that they are the home side this afternoon. MBAEXP | 0-0 |

65’ | After that spell of pressure from the Red Eagles, the home side are back on the ball and are keeping it deep inside Express Football Club’s half. MBAEXP | 0-0 |

60’ | Express Football Club’s confidence has been boosted considerably following their recent chances and they sense that they can take all three points from this match now. MBAEXP | 0-0 |

55’ | A couple of half-chances for the home side in the last couple of minutes or so. All harmless tries really as far as the Red Eagles are concerned. MBAEXP | 0-0 |

50’ | There has been a slow start to the second half. The game has yet to pick up momentum. If we go at this rate, it would be safe to assume that a single goal would be enough to settle the result. MBAEXP | 0-0 We’re back for the second half, center referee Byaruhanga Henry sets us underway. MBAEXP | 0-0 |

HT: The referee blows the 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 whistle and signals an end to first-half action. It is goalless at the break between the Ankole Lions and the Red Eagles. MBAEXP | 0-0 |

35’ | Mbarara City are the better side right now, it must be said. They still are not exactly playing awe-inspiring football, but they have raised their game somewhat and look most likely to provide an opening goal. MBAEXP | 0-0 |

20’ | It is all Mbarara City at the moment, and they are passing the ball around brilliantly in midfield. The Red Eagles are finding it hard to keep up with them at the moment. MBAEXP | 0-0 |

15’ | It is all Mbarara City at the moment, and they are passing the ball around brilliantly in midfield. The Red Eagles are finding it hard to keep up with them at the moment. MBAEXP | 0-0 |

5’ | The visitors have made a really great start to the match and they are putting the Mbarara City defense under a huge amount of pressure. MBAEXP | 0-0 |

K𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐟𝐟 | We are underway in this league clash. MBAEXP | 0-0 |

Express FC yet to win a game in the second round, travel to Mbarara to face
Mbarara City FC. You can follow the game here or Dial *165*4*7# for MTN discounted data bundles and catch the game live on the #StarTimesON App today at 2PM.