Tuesday 1st March
*Onduparaka Vs Gaddafi FC – Green light stadium
*Police FC Vs Tooro United – MTN Omondi stadium
*BUL FC Vs UPDF FC – Kyabazinga stadium
Team News
BUL will be without Ibrahim Mugulusi, Joram Kirya and Hillary Onek.
Pascal Ngobi is also ruled out having picked up an injury in their last game against rivals Busoga United in the Uganda Cup.
UPDF will be without Okello Donato, Musa Mudde, Yiga Frank and Oyirwoth Daglas who are nursing injuries.
Bernard Muwanga and Ssekitoleko Denis are doubtful and will face a late fitness test.
Jacob Okao returns having missed a one all draw with his Parent club Vipers, Salim Huud, Luwalo Kipper and Dongo Mustafa are all fit for the Army side.
Probable Lineups
BUL FC: Saidi Keni (GK), Ayiko Richard, Douglas Muganga, Aggrey Madoi, George Kasonko, Umar Mukobe, Martin Aprem, Ibrahim Kazindula, Simon Peter Oketch, Karim Ndugwa, Ibrahim Nsimbe
UPDF FC: Wasswa Yusuf (GK), James Begesa, Sunday Geoffrey, Jacob Okao, Kasozi Samson, Ibrahim Wammanah, Ezekiel Katende, Mugisha Rogers, Kigozi Ambrose, Ivan Ahimbisibwe, Sabir Yassin.
Preview: UPDF hope to end nine-game winless run
UPDF will seek to end their winless run as they travel away to BUL at the Kyabazinga Stadium in Bugembe.
The Army side have not won any league game since their 2-1 win against Bright Stars at the Bombo Military Barracks Ground in December courtesy of Ezekiel Katende and James Begesa strikes.
Since then, Brian Ssenyondo side have lost four matches (Police, Vipers, Arua Hill and Wakiso Giants) and five draws (BUL, Villa twice, Police and Vipers).
However, they are unbeaten in their last four games – drawing all of them.
Coming into this game, UPDF are buoyed after picking up a draw with leaders Vipers in their last league match before 1-0 win over Impala Hill in the Uganda Cup.
For BUL, they will hope to return to winning ways after a 2-2 draw with Arua Hill at the Barifa Stadium. Karim Ndugwa and Simon Peter Oketch were on target for the Eastern Giants.
Speaking to the club media ahead of the game, BUL FC Head Coach Alex Isabirye says UPDF is desperate for a win but his side is ready for them and he’s confident they will win the game.
“I know UPDF has been performing well this second round, they have drawn 4 games, they are desperate for the win but we are ready for them,” said Alex Isabirye on Monday.
“As I have been telling you we are trying to see that we groom a team that will win trophies next seasons so we play game by game.
“So am sure we shall win the game and we have replacements for the injured players, am very sure we shall win the game because we are at home and the players are ready, they know what it means to win tomorrow’s game.”
BUL FC forward Simon Peter Oketch says they are prepared for the game and will handle it just like other games.
“We are well prepared for tomorrow’s game against UPDF, its a tought team but we shall handle them like any other game so far we have played.
“For our fans come and support us because we need your support and we get a good result.”
The last time they met in the second round, Ivan Ahimbisibwe’s 78th minute equaliser cancelled Musa Esenu’s strike to end all square.
Stats
BUL FC
BUL FC are 4th on the log with 30 points after 18 matches.
They have won 8 matches, 6 draws and 4 defeats having scored 33 times bettered by only Leaders Vipers (41) and third place URA (36), they have conceeded 21 times.
The Eastern Giants have won just once in their last five matches, two draws and defeats apiece.
At home, BUL have played 9 matches, won 5 ,drawn 2 and lost 2 . They have scored 16 goals and conceeded just six goals at the Kyabazinga Stadium Bugembe with points 17 points.
They have lost at one game at the Kyabazinga Stadium in their last 5 games with 3 wins and a draw.
UPDF
UPDF are 9th on the log with 22 points in 18 matches.
They have five wins, seven draws and six loses. They have scored 22 goals and conceeded 27 times only Wakiso Giants (28), Busoga United (30) and Tooro United (43) have allowed more goals against them than UPDF.
They have drawn four consecutive matches in their last 5 matches and lost the other.
Away from home, The Army side have won just one match, 3 draws and 5 loses in 9 matches with just six points.
They have scored 12 goals on the road and conceeded 20.
In the last five matches away from home, UPDF have drawn twice and lost three times.
Head to Head
2021/2022
BUL ?-? UPDF
UPDF 1-1 BUL
2020/2021
*BUL 4-3 UPDF
*UPDF 2-1 BUL
2017/18
*UPDF 0-3 BUL
*BUL 2-0 UPDF
2016/17
*UPDF 2-0 BUL
*BUL 0-1 UPDF
2015/16
*UPDF 3-1 BUL
*BUL 2-1 UPDF
