The Uganda Premier league second round will kicks off on Tuesday as Police FC host relegation threatened Nyamityobora Football Club.
The hosts had a fair display in the first round of the season finishing seventh with 21 points compared to their performance at the half way point last season where they finished fourth, on 24 points.
It is their performance in the second round of the season that made them drop from nearly title contenders to finishing mid table, 24 points off champions Vipers.
But head coach Abdallah Mubiru is not worried about a repeat of last season’s slip since he is sure his players know how what to expect this time round.
“Last season, we lost three of our best players after the first round and we did not replace well. It is something that plagued us in the second round but thankfully our squad has been stable this time round and I am confident we shall not go down that road again,” Mubiru told Watchdog Uganda.
Nyamityobora are currently 14th with nine points, six points from safety. The trip to Police FC is a fixture they would dread to start their survival campaign with. But head coach Asaph Mwebaze is confident that now they can survive the drop.
The western side confirmed the signing of eight new players on Sunday ahead of their trip to Lugogo and Mwebaze hopes his new signings can bring the intended impact to the squad.
“With the new players we brought in, I have high hopes that they will help the team out of the relegation zone because we feel these are the right players for the job. Hopefully they are all available for Tuesday’s game,” Mwebaze said
U-20 goalkeeper Dennis Otim headlines the list of arrivals at Nyamityobora with Damien Nakalema, Peter Mutebi, Joel Ayoku, Edgar Mujuni, John Sserunjogi, James Tongi and Fred Mayindi all joining the western side from lower division sides.
The cops will miss youngster Andrew Okiring as he is out with an injury but they hope midfielder Juma Balinnya, Ruben Kimera and Hassan Gaata continues with the fine performances they put up during the first round but there are no additions for the cops.
The Abanyakare lost their only game against the Cops 2-1 at Wankulukuku as Mubiru’s charges picked up their second win of the season through former midfielder Ben Ocen’s double.
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