Shafic Kiyaga
Soccer. BUL Bidco Football Club will be hoping to go top of the Startimes Uganda Premier League’s ahead of the international break as they visit Mbarara City Football Club at the refurbished Kakyeka Stadium in Mbarara.
The Jinja outfit have gone five matches without defeat this term, but a goalless draw against URA last time out denied a chance to go top of the log in what is shaping up to be a tight title battle. Between now and November 23, however, when the Uganda Cup kicks off, all focus should turn to the domestic stage, where BUL are battling strong.
If bettering last term’s sixth-place finish under Kefa Kisaala in the league is Peter Onen’s immediate priority, a good run in the Uganda Cup will also be high on the agenda.
With three wins in their last five games, there should be a real feel-good factor around the green half of Jinja thanks to the work of Onen since succeeding Kisaala in June.
A return to winning ways tomorrow will ensure that BUL are on their best unbeaten league run since May this year, though sceptics will point out that they have drawn to URA and Express in their only major league tests to date.
Ahead of a tough December that sees BUL face champions Vipers and KCCA at either end of the month as well as the Jinja derby against Kirinya, Onen will be keen to put three more points on the board to keep this steady momentum building.
Despite Mbarara City losing 2-1 in the western derby, they have really come back strong since then winning two and drawing once in their next fixtures since then.
Charles Livingstone Mbabazi has guided his side to impressive wins over Express and SC Villa and a draw against KCCA, results that go a long way in showing the former Onduparaka tactician is on the right path of accomplishing his season’s ambitions.
Bul will miss the services of Francis Onekalit, who is still out with suspension while Oromchan Villa may also sit out this one with injury. However, they still have the services of Hamis Tibita, Shabena Daniel and Ojok Daniel who have been involved in eight league goals thus far.
Mbabazi confirmed that midfielder Eyam Ivan is still out after pulling a hamstring but they still have the services of Abdulkarim Nduggwa and Paul Mucureezi who have been directly involved in seven goals so far this season in the league while Charles Musiige has also been impressive.
Otherwise they have a full squad to choose from. The performance of Kabuye Samuel from the bench was highly praised, and he may be rewarded with his first start of the season.
Mbarara City have avoided defeat in both of their previous two league encounters with BUL. These came in the manner of a 2-1 win at Kakyeeka in April this year while they shared spoils in their first meeting in Jinja.
Both teams are separated by a single point as BUL lie fourth with 14 points while Mbarara City lie 5th with 13 points.
Last week’s point at home to URA may be considered a positive result for BUL, but they need to get back to winning ways if they are to keep pace with the front runners. Mbarara will also want to open their account at the refurbished Kakyeka stadium with a win as they re-initiate their fans to league football which they have surely missed and this is the kind of match Mbabazi would have loved before the break.
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