Tuesday, November 23
*SC Villa Vs BUL – Njeru
*URA Vs Tooro – Ndejje
Team News:
- SC Villa will be without Nicholas kabonge due to sickness while Allan Nyanzi is ruled out due to injury
- Charles Bbale, Abdallah Ssekandi and Isma Mugulusi remain sidelined as well
- For BUL, Walter Ochora is expected to start for the first time since he was sent off against Express.
- Simon Peter Oketch still ruled out, Ivan Wani is back after missing the URA game while Martin Aprem is suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
Probable Lineups
SC Villa – Meddie Kibirige, Gavin Kizito, Kenneth Ssemakula, Gift Fred, Joseph Agandu, Ali Bayo, Amir Kakomo, Umar Lutalo, Oscar Mawa, Travis Mutyaba, Iddi Abdulwahid.
BUL FC Starting XI
Saidi Keni (G.K), Walter Ochora, Aggrey Madoi, Douglas Muganga, George Kasonko, Jerome Kirya, Hilary Onek, Fredson Gwoto, Ivan Wani, Musa Esenu, Joseph Ssemujju
Preview: SC Villa Seeks to Build on Express Draw
SC Villa play host to BUL in a rescheduled Uganda Premier League game at FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.
This match, just like that of URA vs Tooro, was supposed to be played on match-day one but the Jogoos had not cleared with the FUFA Licensing Committee.
The Jogoos will be playing their first home game at Njeru having used Kavumba as a home venue recently, and whether playing an artificial turf affects them against BUL, remains to be seen.
“Most of the players have played in artificial pitch before,” said Villa coach Petros Koukouras.
“We know it’s way different than playing in natural ground and we have to adapt immediately in order not to spend any minutes to settle in the game.”
Away from the artificial turf worries, the Jogoos will be buoyed by their performance against Express FC in their last outing.
Villa were the better side at Wankulukuku and coach Koukouras wants to build on that point in the next games.
He stated: “We have to continue with a win. If we don’t get all the 3 points in the next game then all the effort we put in the derby against Express FC will be for nothing. So for us there is only one result. There is not much time in between the two matches so we just try to see how we can bring freshness back to the players and be ready for the game on Tuesday.”
The Visitors on the other hand, have won three from five. Their only loss came against Express and come into this game after a spirited comeback against URA in a 2-2 draw
BUL coach Alex Isabirye stated: “SC Villa are a good team and come into this one with confidence after that draw against the defending champions. We want to compete and put up a good contest and I expect a good game.”
Last season, SC Villa and BUL shared spoils in both meetings. Nicholas Kabonge and Emmanuel Wasswa scored for Villa while Richard Wandyaka and Musa Esenu scored for BUL in a 2-2 draw at Bugembe. The Jogoos had Benson Muhindo sent off.
Villa needed a late Muhammad Nsereko goal to salvage a point after Esenu had put BUL in the lead in the first round.
Head To Head
2020/21
*Villa 1-1 BUL
*BUL 2-2 Villa
2019/20
*BUL 2-1 Villa
*Villa 1-1 BUL
2018/19
*BUL 1-1 Villa
*Villa 0-1 BUL
2017/18
*Villa 0-1 BUL
*BUL 0-1 Villa
2016/17
*Villa 1-0 BUL
*BUL 0-1 Villa
2015/17
*BUL 0-2 Villa
*Villa 0-0 Villa
2014/15
*Villa 2-2 BUL
*BUL 0-0 Villa
