It will be a busy Easter weekend for the StarTimes Uganda Premier League title contenders, who include table leaders SC Villa, second-placed KCCA FC and defending champions Vipers SC, with crucial games on the card for the trio.
First in action will be SC Villa, the current 15-team table leaders, with 40 points from 20 games. The Jogoos travel to Wakiso Giants on Saturday, April 8 for a highly-billed match at the Kabaka Kyabaggu stadium.
This is a must-win game for Villa to keep their three-point lead over second-placed KCCA. Any slip-up for the Jogoos will dent momentum towards a possible first league title in 19 years.
In their last five outings, Villa have been impressive as they won all, after beating Onduparaka 2-1, Express FC (2-1), BUL FC (1-0), Busoga United (1-0) and Bright Stars (1-0).
On the other hand, Wakiso Giants are desperate to bounce back to winning ways after losing four consecutive games in the past one month. The Giants lost to Maroons (1-2), Blacks Power (0-1), UPDF FC (0-1) and URA FC (0-2) in their recent fixtures.
In the reverse fixture, Wakiso Giants defeated Villa 2-1 at Wankulukuku last November.
Following their dramatic 2-2 draw with Maroons on April 5, Vipers will be out for maximum points against relegation-bound Blacks Power, who visit St Mary’s stadium, Kitende for the first time.
Coach Alex Isabirye is under pressure to get his first league victory for Vipers, who are fourth with 29 points from 16 games.
Vipers last tasted victory in the league on December 17, 2022 when they beat BUL FC 2-1 at home.
In their recent games, the Venoms lost once (0-1 to Busoga United), drew twice with Wakiso Giants (0-0) and Maroons (2-2).
In that period, Vipers have switched coach three times; Brazilian Roberto Oliveira quit in December 2022, he replaced by compatriot Beto Biancho in January 2023 and sacked two months later. Isabirye took over last month.
Blacks Power are fourteenth on the log with just 16 points from 20 games but can be unpredictable. For instance, they held KCCA FC to a 1-1 draw on April 5.
On Easter Sunday, April 9, KCCA FC host army side UPDF FC at the Phillip Omondi stadium, Lugogo.
KCCA, who are second on the table with 37 points from 18 games, cannot afford to lose if they are to keep the title hopes alive.
Coach Morley Byekwaso’s Kasasiro Boys are coming off a frustrating 1-1 draw with Blacks Power in the mid-week.
They, however, face an inform UPDF side that has won three back-to-back games. The army side has beaten Bright Stars (1-0), Wakiso Giants (1-0) and Arua Hill (3-1) in the last three games.
In their first round tie last November, KCCA beat UPDF 1-0 at the Bombo Military Barracks playground.
EASTER HOLIDAY FIXTURES:
Friday, April 7@4pm:
Bright Stars v Gaddafi
Saturday, April 8@4pm:
Wakiso Giants v SC Villa
BUL v Express FC
Saturday, April 8@7pm:
Vipers v Blacks Power
Sunday, April 9@4pm:
KCCA v UPDF
Arua Hill v URA FC
Monday, April 10@4pm:
Busoga United v Onduparaka