The Azam Uganda Premier League title race is nearly a wrap. It will be something greater than a miracle to stop leaders KCCA from bagging a 12th crown.
If coach Mike Mutebi's win over Kirinya-Jinja SS at home in Lugogo and second-placed SC Villa fail to beat Soana in Kavumba, the title will be done. The bigger matters left to talk about are: which sides will finish in the top five places and which other two outfits join relegated JMC Hippos back to the Fufa Big League?Sticking with the former, Onduparaka are in pursuit of finishing up among the top in the hierachy. After beating Lweza at home courtesy of striker Muhammad Shaban’s 12th goal of the season early last month, fourth and fifth positions looked more than realistically achievable. Now things have changed a bit. Onduparaka lies seventh with 38 points amassed from 26 matches. The side tutored by coaches Leo Adraa and Livingstone Mbabazi can leapfrog resurgent Soana and Express back to fifth if they beat the latter at the Betway Green Light Stadium in Arua on Friday.
Six-time champions Express have garnered 40 points from 26 outings and their 450km trip up north comes on the back of two successive defeats; 1-0 to KCCA on Friday and 4-2 at the hands of Lweza in the Wankulukuku derby. Regardless, Express coach Matia Lule keeps emphasizing one target: “If we can finish the season in the top five places, we shall be satisfied,“ he said.Express‘ target resonates with Onduparaka’s, which leaves a highly billed encounter on cards. There will a midfield battle between Express trio Saddam Juma, Joseph Ssemujju and Allan Kyambadde against home boys Gadhaffi Anguzu, Ibrahim Faisal and Living Kabon. When the two sides first faced off on Match Day 3 of the season, Onduparaka scored their first-ever UPL goal through towering defender Rashid Toha to draw 1-1 on September 6, 2016 in Wankulukuku.
MATCH 27 FIXTURES
FRIDAY, MAY 5
4pm: Sadolin Paints vs. The Saints, Kakindu
4:30pm: Onduparaka vs. Express, Arua
SATURDAY, MAY 6
4pm: KCCA vs. Kirinya-Jinja, Lugogo
4pm: Bright Stars vs. Proline, Mwererwe
4pm: Soana vs. SC Villa, Kavumba
This writer is a scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and sports presenter with NBS Television and Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter:@AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune