Express finishes ninth as Vipers take fourth title


Express Football Club continued its improvement for a third season in a row after finishing ninth in a truncated Uganda Premier League (UPL).
 
Local football body Fufa on Wednesday cancelled the 2019-2020 top-flight season after disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
 
Fufa applied the competitions’ rule that 75 percent of matches had been played for the league which had been off since March.
 
President Yoweri Museveni had suspended sports on March 18 and the wait goes on at least until June 10.
 
Express had played 25 matches and collected 31 points, on level with eighth-placed Onduparaka but with an inferior goal difference.
 
The finish marks an improvement by a place having finished 10th with 40 points last season. 
 
The six-time champions Express had survived relegation in the 2017-18 season, finishing 13th with 31 points.
 
“Improvement at a slow pace,” Express CEO Hamzah Jjunju remarked. “So as a club, we need to pick the positives as our performance for the last three seasons show progress.
 
“Hence, we need now to focus on weak areas, strengthen them and keep moving upwards.”
 
Notwithstanding Dissan Galiwango and Frank Ssenyondo’s contribution, Express’ best player was Frank Kalanda who finished with 11 goals, two behind top-scorer Steven Mukwala on loan at Maroons from Vipers.
 
Vipers have crowned champions for a fourth time as they were top of the log with 54 points. 
 
The Venoms will represent Uganda in the Caf Champions League next season. Proline, Maroons and Tooro United were relegated.
 

2019/20 STARTIMES UPL SEASON STANDINGS


TEAM             P         W        D         L         F          A         Pts
Vipers SC       25        16        6          3          38        15        54
KCCA             25        15        5          5          42        21        50
SC Villa          25        13        7          5          33        21        46
Busoga            25        13        3          9          30        22        42
URA               25        10        10        5          29        22        40
Bul                  25        10        6          9          31        25        36
Mbarara City  25        10        6          9          29        27        36
Onduparaka    25        9          4          12        30        28        31
Express           25        9          4          12        30        37        31
Wakiso            25        8          6          11        24        27        30
Kyetume         25        9          3          13        24        37        30
Bright Stars    25        7          8          10        24        28        29
Police              25        8          4          13        30        37        25
Maroons          25        6          6          13        26        41        24
Proline            25        8          4          13        18        38        22
Tooro United  25        6          4          15        18        39        22
 

2019/20 Top Scorers

Player                                     Club                            Goals
Steven Mukwala                     Maroons                           13
Fahad Bayo                             Vipers                            12
Ben Ocen                                Police                            12
Frank Kalanda                        Express                           11
Viane Ssekajugo                     Wakiso Giants                  9
Julius Malingumu                  Onduparaka                         9
Brian Aheebwa                       Mbarara City                     8
Robert Ssentongo                   Kyetume                           8
Cromwel Rwothomio             URA                                   8
 
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This writer is a global broadcaster and as well scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and sports presenter with Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune

Published: 05/21/2020