Onduparaka improved away form worth reckoning

Probably, Onduparaka could have more title contenders than pretenders last season, only if they had put up a better away performance.
 
That debut season in the Azam Uganda Premier League saw the Arua-based club finish fifth with 45 points, just seven draws and three victories away.
 
They wrapped up their away matches this season on a rather bizarre note, losing 1-0 to Mbarara City at the Kakyeka Stadium after Nigerian forward Emmanuel Ibe Obina struck a first-half penalty, their fifth in five home matches.
 


While Mbarara is still in the relegation dogfight, Onduparaka is comfortable and they will finish fourth, a position better than last season.
 
Already equal on last season’s overall point tally with a home tie against Bright Stars to go, Onduparaka should delight in their improved away form.

From three wins on the road last term, it has doubled to six which accounts a 100 percent growth for a club that only started swimming at the deep end last season. 

 
The club underwent an unexpected coaching transition from Livingstone Mbabazi to Simeone Masaba but wins have been conjured up at Maroons, Express, URA, Proline, Police and Soana.
 
But their home form has interestingly declined to losing for the first time - 1-0 to SC Villa courtesy of Godfrey Lwesibawa - at the Betway Green Light Stadium in Arua.
 
The Caterpillars beat Express 2-1, Villa 4-3, Vipers 1-0 and KCCA 2-1 at home last season but that has changed to 0-0, 0-1, 0-0 and 1-1 respectively this season.
 
They won eight in total in Arua last season are now short of that by two with Stars left to visit. Perhaps that will be a moment to finish on a high on May 25.


 
Meanwhile, the title race is keeping many a fan and pundit gripped with six points still separating the top three Vipers (59), KCCA (54) and Villa (53).
 
The latter’s pursuit of the first title in 14 years was dented by a 1-0 loss to UPDF last weekend.
 
But with Vipers also having played a 1-all stalemate at Kirinya-Jinja SS, Villa has a chance to return to second if they beat hosts Express in Wankulukuku on Friday.


 
Six-time winners Express are in relegation battle on 27 points from as many matches in 14th place on the 16-team log.
 
Coaches Shafik Bisaso and George ‘Best’ Nsimbe have a job on their hands and they have relied on shoe-string luck, that punctuated by a not only late but also controversial Ayub Kisalita penalty in the 1-1 draw with URA last weekend.
   
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