For a team only a year old in the topflight Azam Uganda Premier League, Onduparaka ought to be comfortable seating in second place on the 16-team log.
The Arua-based club has amassed 16 points from nine matches played so far with four wins and as many stalemates plus a 4-1 loss to holders KCCA. However, there is a growing frustration in coach Leo Adraa’s side as the team is struggling to find the back of the net in recent matches. Perhaps, Onduparaka would be top had they put away their past three matches. But they haven’t scored in 270 minutes of football with three straight goalless draws against Vipers, BuL and Mbarara City.
More shocking is two of these three draws have been in Arua, much to compound the desire to score. On the other hand, it is a reminder of the void left by striker Muhammad Shaban who controversially joined KCCA early in the season. Ceaser Okhuti, the last man to score for Onduparaka in the 2-1 away win at Express, has three goals but needs even more support from fellow strikers Alfred Leku and Karim Ndugwa. The latter pair has got to bury their chances they visit Bright Stars in Match Day 10 action at the Champions Stadium in Mwererwe on Wednesday.Similarly, the attacking midfield pack comprising Kabon Livin, Gadaffi Anguzu and Vianney Ssekajugo should make inroads at goal more often to arrest the problem.
The worry is Bright Stars concede few goals under the guise of coach Fred Kajoba. They have the second-best defence with only four goals conceded against six, same as SC Villa who visist BuL in Kakindu. It is 2015 champions Vipers, who visit UPDF in Bombo, with the best defence having conceded only three goals in eight outings. Last season, Stars picked four points off Onduparaka, winning home tie 2-0 before drawing goalless away in Arua. Onduparaka must be worry of Bright Stars’ forward Nelson Senkatuka who boasts of four goals. League leaders Police visit defending champions KCCA at Lugogo in the day’s peak of fixtures. “Knowing that we are facing the defending champions, it motivates us enough,” Police coach Abdallah Mubiru said. “We want to match every opponent this season and the match is here for us to gauge ourselves,” the former KCCA boss stated.
He will be relying on players like Ben Ocen, Albert Mugisha, Gift Ali and Rahmat Senfuka in the midfield with Norman Ogik and Hood Kaweesa expected to lead the line. Just like Kaweesa, KCCA’s forward Tito Okello also has four goals this season but his teammates including Sadam Juma, Allan Kateregga and XXX must win the midfield battle. Last week, Police saved a point from the jaws of defeat as they came from 2-0 down against Maroons while KCCA thumped Masavu 6-0 in their recent Lugogo encounter. The hosts’ coach Mike Mutebi acknowledges Police are at the summit by accident. “I expect a good match,” Mutebi said. “I do not think they (Police) will be defensive and we expect a good challenge.” “I have seen my lads have gotten the appetite after scoring six goals because our problem has been creating chances and not scoring.” Mutebi added. KCCA is fifth with 13 points, four behind Police having drawn four of their eight matches.
UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE
MATCH DAY 10 FIXTURES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15
4pm: Bright Stars vs. Onduparaka (Live on Azam TV)
4:30pm: BuL vs. SC Villa, Kakindu
4:30pm: URA vs. Proline, Namboole
4:30pm: UPDF vs. Vipers, Bombo
4:30pm: Maroons vs. Soana, Luzira
4:30pm: KCCA vs. Police, Lugogo
4:30pm: Kirinya-Jinja SS vs. Mbarara City, Bugembe
4:30pm: Express vs. Masavu, Wankulukuku
DAY 9 RESULTS
Police 2-2 Maroons
Masavu 0-2 URA
Soana 1-0 UPDF
Bright Stars 1-0 BUL
Onduparaka 0-0 Mbarara City
TOP SCORERS
4 GOALS
Nelson Senkatuka (Bright Stars)
Hood Kaweesa (Police)
Tito Okello (KCCA)
3 GOALS
Milton Karisa (Vipers)
Musa Esenu (Kirinya-Jinja SS)
Ceaser Okhuti (Onduparaka)
Daniel Sserunkuma (Express)
Fahad Bayo (Proline)