The 2024/25 Uganda Premier League season maintained its narrative as a tight one with a poetic five draws on the fifth matchday. Vipers SC,NEC FC and BUL FC were the only ones to pick up maximum points, as everybody else had to settle for sharing the spoils.
It all started last Wednesday as the battle between two newly promoted teams Lugazi FC and Mbale Heroes FC ended 1-1 .
Gideon Andrew Etou’s tenth minute finish from close range gave Mbale an early lead,but the Surgeons were pegged back by Derrick Mwanje’s smashing header following a well worked corner routine ten minutes before the break.
It was Lugazi’s first goal of the season after a tough start and if the fans expected more to follow,they were left disappointed as neither side were able to register in the second half.
Lugazi parted ways with head coach Sadick Ssempigi in the aftermath,announcing former Crested Cranes boss Oliver Mbekeka as his replacement.Mbekeka makes history as the first woman to coach a Uganda Premier League team.
However,reports indicate that Uganda Cranes legend David Obua is being lined up for the job,suggesting that Mbekeka’s position may be interim.
The other newly promoted team Police FC continued their solid start to the campaign with an entertaining 2-2 draw with Express FC.
Isaac Ogwang gave the Cops a one goal lead at halftime with a 33rd minute strike,but Samuel Ssenyonjo drew the Red Eagles level just two minutes into the second half.
The former KCCA striker,who also scored a brace against Mbale,then doubled his tally for the day with what he must have thought was the winner in the 78th minute.But Ogwang would not be outdone on his home ground,grabbing his own brace and salvaging a draw for Police with a stoppage time equaliser.
Thursday brought the first win of the matchday as Vipers SC,who officially announced the departure of head coach Nikola Kavazovic this week,beat Wakiso Giants 2-0 at Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium.
Allan Okello built on his fine display for the national team against South Sudan with a fine penalty to break the deadlock.A stuttered run up sent James Alitho the wrong way to give the Venoms a lead they took into the interval.
Vipers captain Milton Kariisa then ended the contest just after the hour mark with a swivelled finish following some neat combination play between Okello and Yunus Ssentamu.
Friday brought a return to the equivalence that is characterising the new season as the Western Uganda derby between Kitara FC and Mbarara City FC ended 1-1.Kitara would have been hoping to belatedly get their campaign off the ground after a worrying start,but their bluntness in front of goal continued here and in fact almost got them punished again.
A goalless first half was followed by an equally barren second,but then Mbarara got a goal seven minutes to the end of the ninety.
Ronald Edwok came off the bench to give the Ankole Lions the lead and put Kitara in grave danger of yet another disappointing defeat,but the Royals had their blushes saved by Uganda Cranes international Patrick Kaddu’s 90th minute header.
Champions SC Villa then blew a two goal lead to draw 2-2 with Soltilo Bright Stars at Muteesa II Stadium Wankulukuku.
Villa,fresh from a humbling defeat to Vipers last time out,went ahead in the 13th minute through talismanic youngster Patrick Jonah Kakande.They then seemingly took cruise control less than ten minutes later,doubling their lead courtesy of Charles Lwanga.
Bright Stars would have been forgiven for fearing the worst at that point,as the Jogoos looked rampant.The visitors’ backline,however,held firm to reach half time without further damage.
That soon proved important as Bright Stars halved the deficit just over fifteen minutes into the second period,thanks to Paskali Oketcho’s effort.Villa’s failure to put the game to bed eventually haunted them,as Khasim Mustapha equalised for Bright Stars in the 87th minute.
NEC FC then came from behind to beat Maroons 2-1 to return to winning ways and go top of the league in the process.NEC,who lost their previous game to Express,fell behind at home after Jacob Okao inadvertently steered the ball into his own net just four minutes after the break.
The deficit was shortlived,as less than ten minutes later,former Kitara,Vipers and KCCA attacker Paul Mucureezi equalised from the penalty spot.The evergreen veteran Muzamiru Mutyaba then came off the bench to net in the 72nd minute,giving Hussein Mbalangu’s troops all three points.
An intriguing clash between URA FC and BUL FC at Hamz Stadium Nakivubo closed out the day and it was the latter who came out on top for a maiden win of the campaign.
Pascal Ngobi got the only goal of the game just three minutes in,firing a powerful piledriver past Denis Otim after Ibrahim Orit’s free kick was only half cleared Faizo Matovu.
There was some controversy as URA’s vociferous appeals for a penalty after Ivan Ahimbisibwe appeared to be tripped in the box by Hillary Onek were waved away by the referee.
The action finally came to an end on Saturday and of course it was yet another draw as early pacesetters KCCA FC dropped points in a goalless draw against UPDF at the MTN Omondi Stadium.
Abdallah Mubiru’s team created loads,but Derrick Nsibambi,Said Mayanja and the effervescent Shafik Nana Kwikiriza just could not find a way past UPDF’s stout backline.
NEC are top of the table with twelve points,trailed by KCCA on eleven.Vipers are third,a point further back,and UPDF complete the top four,level on eight points with fifth placed Express,but ahead by virtue of a superior goal difference.
