Uganda Premier League | Fixture

• Mbale Heroes vs URA – 4 PM
• Vipers vs SC Villa – 7PM

Six-time Uganda Premier League champions, Vipers will not be having their head coach Nikola Kavazovic as they take on SC Villa at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Saturday evening.

Nikola Kavasovic has been given a week suspension that puts his aside to give coach John ‘Ayala’ Luyinda a charge to take over the game against Villa.

“I will serve my sentence (suspension) before returning to take the title,” the gaffer posted on his social media handles.

“Mulindwa (Lawrence) is fully right. If I were him, I would be sacked by immediate effect. Suspension is less than I deserved. I apologize to the entire Vipers,” he added.

Viper have started the ongoing campaign on a low note. In the three games played they have only collected four points out of the possible nine.

They kicked off with a 3-1 loss to NEC before restoring parity with a 3-0 well deserved victory against league giants Express.

But Vipers’ graph downwars took a sharp drop when thet were held by Lugazi in a goalless draw.

Vipers will come to this game eargerly seeking for a victory more so knowing that their arch rivals KCCA sit on top of the log with 10 points.

Head to head

In the last 12 league games between the two sides, Vipers have secured five victories, lost three and drawn four times.

As the transfer window comes to an end, Uganda Premier League side Kitara has completed the signing of Umar Lutalo.

The Royals have agreed terms with former SC Villa midfielder on a one-year employment contract.

Lutalo was instrumental in the journey as SC Villa clinched the 17th League title to end the 20-year trophy drought.

Shortly after the campaign, he announced his departure as reports linked him to a transfer to Europe.

However, it was unfortunate that his trials hit a dead end as he travelled back to the country.

Lutalo’s arrival follows the signing of players like Ronald Otti, Marvin Nyanzi, Moses Sseruyidde, Denis Mande, Douglas Oyirwoth, Fred Amaku among others.

Kitara registered a well-deserved 3-1 victory against Lugazi and will take on NEC in the second game of the campaign.

Uganda Premier League | Results

• SC Villa 4-2 Mbarara City
• Police 0-0 Mbale Heroes

SC Villa secured a well-deserved 4-2 victory against Mbarara City in the Uganda Premier League encounter at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku on Monday.

SC Villa started the game on the front foot, hence throwing several bodies upfront in search of an opener.

Defender Arnold Odongo fired the hosts ahead in the eighth minute with a powerful header from close range off David Owori’s free kick.

Ten minutes later, Elvis Ngonde extended Villa’s lead through a powerful effort that found Mbarara City’s custodian, Abdul Kimera, napping.

At half an hour mark, Innocent Wafula laid in a lovely delivery from the right flank, but Henry Kitegenyi’s forward went wide.

Mbarara City kept seeking a consolation goal, but Seri Ariguma’s free kick in the 34th minute bounced off the frame.

Mbarara City was trailing by two goals to the Joggo at the end of the 45 minutes.

Within a minute into the second half, Patrick Kakande scored SC Villa’s third goal on the day to complete a well-orchestrated team attack.

Hakim Kiwanuka made it four in the 58th minute after a solo effort and a lovely flip over the custodian Kimera.

SC Villa Bradley Wokorach made a stellar save as he denied Seri Arigumaho, who also failed to find the target with an empty net at his disposal.

In the 80th minute, Arigumaho finally found a consolation after Wokorach clumsily lost hold of the ball in the box.

Paul Busolo found Mbarara City’s second goal, but it was not enough to secure anything positive from the game.

Next on the menu, SC Villa will be on the road to face Mbale Heroes on Sunday, September 22, 2024.

CAF Champions League | Result

• CBE vs SC Villa – 3 pm

SC Villa has a big assignment of overturning the 2-1 narrow loss to Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) in the second leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round.

The game will be played at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Ethiopia at 3 pm.

In the last press conference before setting off, SC Villa head coach Morley Byekwaso emphasised that the team aims to be lethal on either side of the pitch.

“The game in Ethiopia means a lot to us as coaches and players, especially after a bad result we had in the first leg,” he stated.

“The target is to get a positive result that will enable us to progress and face Young Africans in the next round,” he added.

“It will not be easy, and we must be lethal in attack and be cautious as well as we can’t afford to be losing possession easily since they are a good team on the ball.”

“The first goal in the game is important, and we can’t afford to concede first but will do all it takes to get the first goal,” he concluded.

Villa will be without the services of Charles Lwanga, who received a red card at the end of the first leg that was played at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

But on the other hand, Reagan Mpande returns to the fold after shaking an injury he suffered in the recently concluded CECAFA Kagame Cup.

Villa needs a two-goal margin to advance to the next level on the continental stage.

Serbian gaffer Dusan Stojanovic and SC Villa decided to part ways on a mutual consent.

The shocking revelation was confirmed on Saturday, July 27 via the club’s official social media handles.

“Sports Club Villa has, today, mutually parted ways with its head coach, Dusan Stojanovic,” the statement partly reads.

“Stojanovic leaves with sincere appreciation for steering the club through a very tough season to its 17th League Championship.”

“The club wishes him well in his next endevours and thanks him gor his services. Coach Morley Byekwaso immediately takes over as the interim head coach,” the document concludes.

Stojanovic joined SC Villa on a three-year contract but the latest development means that it has been terminated.

This happens days as SC Villa prepare to take on Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) in the first roumd of CAF Champions League preliminary round.

But before, SC Villa will take part of the FUFA Super Eight where they are pitted against the Uganda Cranes Select team.

SC Villa finally learnt of their 2024 CECAFA Kagame Cup as the group stage business came to an end.

The Uganda Premier League reigning champions’ hopes were shut down after Zambia’s Red Arrows FC secured a 1-0 victory against Djibouti Telecom.

The slim victory took Red Arrows to six games in three matches, putting a foot ahead of SC Villa, who secured five points.

Looking at the tournament format, the top team of each of the three groups advances to the semifinals, while the second-best team across all groups takes the fourth slot.

However, SC Villa’s assistant coach, Molly Byekwaso believes the team has picked positives even though they have failed to continue their stay in the regional cup.

“The most important thing is that we have had a good experience in terms of preparing for the CAF Champions League,” Byekwaso said.

“This tournament has painted quite a clear picture for us about the players regarding their strengths and weaknesses so let us see how we improve as preparations continue.”

The ongoing tournament continues with Hay Al Wadi (Sudan), Al Hilal (Sudan), APR FC (Rwanda), and Red Arrows (Zambia) still in contention to lift the title.

Uganda representatives SC Villa and Kitara FC have learnt their continental opponents in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, respectively.

The development was confirmed following the draws that were conducted on Thursday at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

Uganda Premier League champions SC Villa will take on Ethiopian side Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) in the first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.

The first leg will be played between August 16 and 18, while the second leg will take place around August 23 to 25.

The reigning Uganda Cup champions Kitara have been drawn against a Libyan side that is yet to be confirmed.

During the draws, it was made clear that the club would be confirmed at the end of the month since Libya’s league is still going on.

The winner on aggregate between Libya and Kitara will take on Al Masry from Egypt in the second preliminary round.

The 12 highest-ranked teams are expected from the first preliminary round. The other 40 clubs will take part in the first round.

Reigning Uganda Premier League Champions SC Villa has announced a travelling squad for the 2024 CECAFA Kagame Cup having six new faces.

Denis Kaka Omony, Kato Ssemayange, Geoffrey Lubangakene, Najib Yiga, Johnson Ssenyonga, and Isaac Mpagi are the new faces in the 25-man squad.

The two left backs Omony and Ssemayange join the league record champions switching from Soltilo Bright Stars, where they ran out of contract.

Right back, Mpangi also joins Villa from Maroons, the energetic and speedy defender brings fresh energy to the Jogoo.

After helping Mbale Heroes earn top-tier status, Lubangakene has also joined Villa as another option in the heart of the backline.

Former Hippos forward Yiga has also joined SC Villa after concluding his dull loan spell at Kitara FC.

Ssenyonga joins SC Villa from Jinja North United, which recently suffered the axe, thus falling into the regional league.

SC Villa’s technical branch has also been boosted by the acquisition of Serbian gaffer Momcilo Medic, who has been introduced as the club’s new statistician.

In the CECAFA Kagame Cup, Villa are pitted in Group C alongside APR FC (Rwanda), Singing Black Stars FC (Tanzania), and Al Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan).

Uganda Premier League champions SC Villa will represent the country in the 2024 CECAFA Kagame Cup slated for July 6-21.

In the draws that were conducted on Wednesday, July 3 in Dar es Salaam, SC Villa was drawn in Group C alongside APR FC (Rwanda), Siginda Black Stars (Tanzania) and El Merriekh Bentiu (South Africa).

The 2024 CECAFA Kagame Cup will have 12 regional teams competing to dethrone Uganda Premier League side Express FC.

The 12 teams have been drawn into three groups where all the top three teams and best placed second place will advance to the semifinals of the tournament.

However much the three groups look balanced, Group C looks particularly tough having two former champions SC Villa and APR FC.

The defending champions Express will miss the chance to try and defend their regional title due to the organisers’ lack of finances to have 16 teams as earlier planned.

According to a letter released by Express, the club cited logical and financial constraints as the main reason for chopping the list of participants from 16 to 12 teams.

2024 CECAFA Kagame Cup – Groups

Group A: Coast Union FC, AL Wadi FC, JKU SC, Dekedaha FC

Group B: Al Hilal, Gor Mahia FC, Red Arrows FC, Djibouti Telecom FC

Group C: SC Villa, APR FC, Singinda Black Stars, El Merriekh Bentiu

Attacking midfielder cum forward Abas Kyeyune has reportedly completed a move from Uganda Premier League side SC Villa to Egyptian side Cleopatra Ceramica.

Reports indicate that Kyeyune has put pen to a four-year contract that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2027/28 campaign.

The youngster was part of the team that guided SC Villa to the long-awaited 17^th Uganda Premier League title after a drought of 20 years.

But before, Kyeyune was instrumental in the Uganda Hippos side which lost the finals in the All Africa Games that were previously held in Ghana.

Kyeyune joined SC Villa after a thrilling performance with UPDF FC. He is expected to continue his growth with the Egyptian side.

Reports further indicate that the deal was worth USD 13,000 as SC Villa smiled away after putting pen to paper in the deal.

The youngster becomes the fifth Ugandan to play in the Egyptian Premier League. The others are Joseph Ochaya, Joachim Ojera, Travis Mutyaba and Allan Kyambadde.