Without a doubt, Onduparaka ticked several boxes on their debut Uganda Premier League season that concluded at the weekend. The Arua-based side produced an enviable performance to finish fifth out of 16 teams after a 1-1 draw away at Kakindu on Saturday. The Caterpillars smiled home after their result matched a needed draw between Express and Soana in Wankulukuku on the final day of the season.
It meant coach Livingstone Mbabazi’s charges would tally a total 45 points from 30 matches, one above Express who fought from two goals down draw 2-all with Soana. Onduparaka captain Muhammad Shaban had earlier disclosed that the team’s plans were make the top five and duly, they did it. Shaban finished second best top-scorer with 13 goals, eight behind boot winner Geoffrey Sserunkuma of KCCA.
Dickens Okwi put Onduparaka ahead on 18 minutes against BUL but they were pegged back by Robert Achema some 40 minutes later. The visitors finished the match with nine men after Ibrahim Faizul was sent off. Regardless, the club will be delighted having bagged 11 wins including doing doubles over Police and Saints. This pair suffered relegation by a whisker.
Onduparaka utilized home advantage to pick motivational victories over KCCA, SC Villa, Vipers and Express - teams that have a combined 36 league titles. KCCA put a seal to their 12th title and were crowned champions by Fufa president Moses Magogo after beating already relegated Sadolin Paints 2-1 at the Phillip Omondi Stadium in Lugogo. Mike Mutebi’s side nicked a back-to-back with 66 points thanks to first-half goals from Sserunkuma and Tom Masiko to struck a scorcher. Meanwhile, Villa finished second after beating Vipers and URA with identical 1-0 wins spurred by striker Umar Kasumba in Masaka.
Vipers, champions two years ago, came third after a late surge. There were smiles for their fans on the last day as they beat Saints 2-0, scored by Tony Odur and Aziz Kemba. URA came fourth, three points better than Onduparaka. At the bottom, it is JMC Hippos, Sadolin Paints and Lweza who were knifed back to the Fufa Big League. On Saturday, Lweza beat Police 1-0 courtesy of Ronald Muganga’s second-half penalty in Namboole but the 2005 winners Police retained life in the top tier after picking boardroom points over JMC.
FINAL DAY UPL RESULTSBul 1-1 Onduparaka
Bright Stars 2-0 JMC Hippos
KCCA 2-1 Sadolin Paints
Express 2-2 Soana
Police 0-1 Lweza
Kirinya-Jinja 2-2 Proline
Vipers SC 2-0 The Saints
FINAL 2016/17 UPL STANDINGSTeam P W D L F A PtsKCCA 30 20 6 4 59 25 66SC Villa 30 16 10 4 46 26 58
Vipers SC 30 14 10 6 35 18 52
URA 30 11 15 4 39 25 48
Onduparaka 30 11 12 7 33 41 45
Express 30 11 11 8 39 37 44
Soana 30 11 10 9 35 33 43
Proline 30 8 15 7 40 39 39
Bright Stars 30 6 16 8 25 28 34
Kirinya Jinja 30 6 15 9 20 22 33
Bul 30 8 9 13 27 32 33
The Saints 30 8 9 13 26 35 33
Police 30 8 9 13 29 40 33
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Lweza 30 6 14 10 27 32 32
Sadolin Paints 30 5 11 14 17 30 26
JMC Hippos 30 0 10 20 15 52 7
TOP SCORERSPlayer Goals ClubGeoffrey Sserunkuma 21 KCCA
Shaban Mohammad 13 Onduparaka
Tony Odur 12 Vipers SC
Nelson Senkatuka 11 Proline
Emmanuel Okwi 10 SC Villa
Shafiq Kagimu 8 URA
Godfrey Wakaza 8 The Saints
PAST CHAMPIONS2017: KCCA
2016: KCCA
2015: Vipers SC
2014: KCC
2012: Express
2013: KCC
2011: URA
2010: Bunamwaya SC
2009: URA
2008: KCC
***KCC and Bunamwaya were renamed KCCA and Vipers respectively***Darren 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