Unlike their maiden their first season, Onduparaka did not need to fashion an exceptional home performance to impress in the first round of the Azam
Uganda Premier League 2017/2018 season. The Arua-based club won just four of seven home fixtures to amass 25 points from 15 matches to sit fourth at the half-way stage of the season. “So far we have performed to our best,” Onduparaka coach Livingstone Mbabazi told the club website in an earlier interview. “We have picked a lot of lessons and we are here to see that we achieve the Target we set in the beginning.” The club looks ready enough to counter opponents and pursue even a higher position when the second round of the league kicks off this weekend.
And the Caterpillars must be relishing action especially with struggling Express being their first visitors at the Betway Green Light Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Why? Onduparaka has never lost to the six-time winners as three meetings have seen them win twice including the 2-1 win at Wankulukuku Stadium back in October. Then, Ceaser Okhuti turned to net a beauty, one of Onduparaka’s three away victories this season. Last season, they shared the spoils before Express lost 2-1 in Arua.
Can it be 3-1 for Onduparaka in this fixture? The club has hired retired Cranes defender Simeon Masaba as the assistant to Mbabazi. And they have also bolstered the attack with Moses Ndawula from Kenyan club Tusker as well as budding player Jamal Malish. But Express look to lift themselves from the relegation zone and improve on their 11-point tally on the 16-team log.
Coach Shafik Bisaso saw his side beat Kachumbala 6-0 in the Uganda Cup round of 64 before recruiting Alfred Leku and Joseph Ssemujju on loan from Vipers, Ayub Kisaliita, Isaac Kisujju, Jalil Zimula (Farmer FC) and Shafik Kakeeto (Nyamityobora). League leaders SC Villa host Maroons in Masaka while third-placed Vipers will away to Soana at Kavumba. Second-placed KCCA is busy with continental duties in Madagascar.
AZAM UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10 - 4PM
BUL vs. URA, Kakindu
Masavu vs. UPDF, Bugonga
Onduparaka vs. Express, Arua
Police vs. Mbarara City, Namboole
Proline vs. Kirinya-Jinja S.S, Lugogo
SC Villa vs. Maroons, Masaka
Soana vs. Vipers, Kavumba
This writer is a scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and, also a sports presenter with NBS Television and Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune