Wednesday, March 17
*Vipers SC vs KCCA FC @4pm – St. Mary’s Stadium (Live on Sanyuka TV)
*Onduparaka FC vs URA FC @4pm – Green Light Stadium.
*Bright Stars FC vs SC Villa @4pm – Kavumba Recreation Grounds.
*Mbarara City FC vs BUL FC @4pm – Kakyeka Stadium.
Team News
•Onduparaka are expected to be without Rashid Okocha Yakubu Rama and Austin Opoka.
•Gabriel Matata and Gibson Adinho are also injury doubts for Wednesday’s game.
•Emmanuel Oketch and Kabon Living returned against Villa last time out and will be expected to continue in starting roles.
•Derrick Ochen was a substitute against Villa and he will be pushing for a start.
•URA will welcome back goal keeper Alionzi Nafian who has returned from injury but it remains to be seen if he will take over from Hannington Ssebwalunyo in between the sticks.
•Hudu Mulikyi will be out and he is replaced by Ronald Kigongo in the team.
•Joackim Ojera has also overcome injury and he returns after a lengthy layoff.
•Jackson Nunda is still a long time absentee for the Tax Collectors.
•Mikidad Ssenyonga has been left out of the match-day squad.
Probable Lineups
Onduparaka SC – Tony Kyamera, Andama Denis, Busobozi Alan, Tusabe Najib, Adriko Gasper, Hamza Geriga, Joel Jangeyambe, Kabon Living, Okecho Emmanuel, Muwonge Amis, Magombe Hakim.
URA FC – Sebwalunyo Hannington (GK), Mandela Ashraf, Majwega Brian, Nyakoojo Benjamin, Ronald Kigongo, Mbowa Patrick, Sserubiri Ivan, Kagimu Shafik, Ssali Davis, Mukwala Steven, Cromwel Rwothomio.
Preview – Tax Collectors Out To End First Round On Top
URA FC will be hoping to end the first round top of the standings with a positive performance on Wednesday.
The Tax Collectors sit two points clear at the summit following Express’s victory away to Police on Tuesday.
A win for Sam Simbwa’s side will ensure they hold at least a three point lead at the top, that is if Vipers SC also beats KCCA FC on the same day.
However, if the Venoms fail to take care of their business, URA will head into the break with a healthy five point caution.
After beating Vipers in their last contest, URA must be feeling confident heading to Arua.
They have won all their last six games on the trot and are the only side in double figures in terms of victories this campaign (10).
Away from home has also been a good hunting ground for URA as they are currently on a six-match winning streak.
The only fixture that saw them fail to take all three points on the road was the 1-1 draw in Mbarara on opening match-day.
For Onduparaka, they have been blowing hot and cold all campaign.
Having won two on the bounce, they lost their last encounter away to SC Villa.
They start the day in 8th spot with 21 points and the highest they can climb before the end of the first round is 7th.
Their home form has also been average this campaign as they have won just twice all season (D3 L2).
With two losses in their past three home games, the Caterpillars will be worried when the leaders come to town on Wednesday.
The Stats
This will be the 8th meeting between the two sides since October 2016.
URA have been fairly dominant in this fixture, winning three and losing just once in the past meetings.
URA has never lost away to Onduparaka, winning once and drawing the other three of the four games their have travelled to Arua.
That victory came in the only meeting between the two sides last season courtesy of a 1-2 result.
