A football season is like a marathon, not a sprint. Many will concur to that statement backed up by history excellent starts, unexpected surges and spectacular collapses.
All that matters to Onduparaka will be how they finish come next May and not their current state in the Azam Uganda Premier League. Well, the side is still nursing their wounds after losing 4-1 to KCCA at the StarTimes Stadium in Lugogo on Tuesday. That loss on Match Day 3 in Lugogo was more of a gift than a hard-fought result for the holders KCCA. Why? A reckless back pass from Sadir Simba was tapped in by Derrick Nsibambi for KCCA’s first goal and then Muzamiru Mutyaba would later double the lead after poor marking. “The rain could have affect the boys,” Onduparaka’s coach Leo Adraa said. “It could have affected their mindsets and we are going to work on that before the next game.”
The Caterpillars were far from impressive, conceding a beauty from Jackson Nunda and fellow Tito Okello. The late consolation goal from Muhammad Rashid could be the start point for soul searching before they host Police at the Betway Green Light Stadium in Arua on September 30. “We shall get better,” creative midfielder Gadhaffi ‘Gadinho’ Anguzu told this website. “May be it is a matter of time.” Onduparaka has amassed four points from three matches thus far after a goalless draw with Proline at home before beating Maroons 2-0 courtesy of Ceaser Okhuti’s brace. While Onduparaka is out of action this weekend, Vipers face SC Villa in a crunch tie at the St. Mary’s Stadium on Saturday.
It is a fixture that sees both teams walk onto the pitch with four points apiece. Villa beat Soana 1-0 after Vitalis Tabu’s 72nd minute free-kick in the season opener before wasting chances in the 1-1 draw with Police. Having failed to break down 10-man Bright Stars, Milton Karisa’s strike helped Vipers beat Bul in Kitende last Friday.
It is a tie that sees Vipers’ midfielder Taddeo Lwanga faces his former employers. Interestingly, the former captain Lwanga scored for Villa in the 2-1 win over Vipers at Nakivubo, a result that got Abdallah Mubiru sacked last season.
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AZAM UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE
MATCH DAY TWO RESULTS
KCCA 4-1 Onduparaka
Mbarara City 1-1 Bright Stars
Maroons 0-0 URA
Soana 1-0 Masavu
ONDUPARAKA’S RESULTS
September 12: Onduparaka 0-0 Proline
September 16: Maroons 0-2 Onduparaka
September 19: KCCA 4-1 Onduparaka
NEXT FIXTURE
September 30: Onduparaka vs. Police, Arua
WEEKEND FIXTURES
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
4pm: Police vs. Proline, Namboole (Live on Azam TV)
SATURDAY, SEPT 23, 2017 (4:00PM)
4pm: Vipers SC vs. SC Villa, Kitende (Live on Azam TV)
4pm: UPDF vs. Express, Bombo
4pm: Kirinya-Jinja vs. Bul, Bugembe
TABLE STANDINGS
Team P W D L F A Pts
KCCA 3 1 2 0 5 2 5
Mbarara City 3 1 2 0 2 1 5
Police 2 1 1 0 4 1 4
SC Villa 2 1 1 0 2 1 4
Kirinya Jinja 2 1 1 0 1 0 4
Vipers SC 2 1 1 0 1 0 4
Soana 3 1 1 1 2 2 4
URA 3 1 1 1 2 2 4
Onduparaka 3 1 1 1 3 4 4
Bright Stars 3 0 3 0 2 2 3
Masavu 3 1 0 2 1 4 3
Maroons 3 0 2 1 0 2 2
UPDF 2 0 1 1 2 3 1
BUL 2 0 1 1 0 1 1
Express 2 0 1 1 0 1 1
Proline 2 0 1 1 0 1 1
TOP SCORERS
2 Goals: Ceasar Okhuti (Onduparaka)
1 Goal: Vitalis Tabu (SC Villa), Fred Okot & Labama Bokota (URA), Walter Rubangakene & Ezekiel Katende (UPDF), Osman Wejjuli (Soana), Milton Karisa (Vipers SC), Nelson Senkatuka (Bright Stars)