RESULTS:
KCCA 1 Maroons 1
BrightStars 0 URAFC 2
Express 4 Onduparaka 1
Busoga United 0 SC Villa 1
Wakiso Giants 0 UPDF FC 1
The race to win this season’s StarTime Uganda Premier League title picked the tempo on Saturday, April 1 after KCCA FC lost the table leadership to traditional rivals SC Villa by just a single point.
Currently, SC Villa lead the 15-team league table with 37 points from 19 games compared to second-placed KCCA on 36 points from 17 matches.
Villa assumed the 15-team league table top spot after their narrow 1-0 win over Busoga United on Friday, March 31. The Jogoos toppled KCCA, who had held the table leadership since November 2022.
Playing 24 hours later, KCCA were widely-tipped to regain the leadership but the Lugogo-based Kasasiro Boys faltered as they drew 1-1 with Maroons FC on Saturday at the Phillip Omondi stadium.
KCCA’s draw with Maroons handed a one-point gap to SC Villa on top. It’s the first time this season that Villa are leading the league table.
The Jogoos, who last won the league title in 2004, have recovered from a three-point and goal deduction meted on the club for hooliganism earlier this season.
Meanwhile, BUL FC (30 points), defending champions Vipers SC (28 points) and former champions URA FC (26 points) are in third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.
On Saturday, URA put on their best performance this season as they defeated Bright Stars 2-0 to move into the top-five. The tax collectors seem to have finally found the rhyme to seriously challenge for the title after spending massively on buying new players in the preseason.
Vipers, on the other hand, are out of the CAF Champions League (they lost 0-2 to Horoya AC on Friday night in last group game in Bamak, Mali), and will concentrate on defending the league title.
Coach Alex Isabirye, who recently replaced Brazilian Beto Bianchi at the Kitende-based club, has been tasked to retain the league and win the Uganda Cup.