Title race blown wide open after Vipers-Villa stalemate

Vipers' Yunus Sentamu drives past Villa's Ronald Ssekiganda|TONI KAMAU IMAGE

UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE Title race blown wide open after Vipers-Villa stalemate

Allan Damba 16:39 - 09.04.2024

Each of the quintet has emerged as favorites for the championship, whose winner could be decided on the final day, as the case was last season.

Four points separate first from fifth on the Uganda Premier League table with less than seven rounds of action to sum up the 2023/24 campaign.

This followed a hugely contested barren stalemate between reigning champions Vipers SC and record-holder SC Villa at the Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku on Tuesday.

Allan Okello in action against Villa|TONI KAMAU IMAGE

The result left Vipers third with 42 points after 22 games, one and two points adrift of second-placed BUL FC and leaders Kitara FC, respectively, with the latter pair playing one game more.

After playing games, Villa remain fourth with 41 points, and are just three off the apex.

Fifth-placed NEC FC are not far off from the title challenge as they have accumulated 40 points in 23 games.

Each of the quintet has emerged as favorites for the championship, whose winner could be decided on the final day, as the case was last season.

Meanwhile, on the evening at Wankulukuku, the Venoms and the Jogoo were evenly poised, with both sides creating decent chances to grab a goal, in vain.

Villa's best chance came through Umar Lutalo, whose freekick in the 85th minute was denied by a brilliant Jack Komakech save.

Action between Villa and Vipers at Wankulukuku|TONI KAMAU IMAGE

For Vipers, substitutes Fazil Tumwine and Yunus Sentamu missed from a touch each to break the deadlock in the dying minutes of the match.

The first half had seen Isa Mubiru, Erick Kambale and Milton Karisa threaten for the visitors, yet they couldn't master their way past goalkeeper Jeans Braddy Wokorach.

After the draw, Vipers will return to league action on April 19 against leaders Kitara in Masindi,  while Villa will entertain Soltilo Bright Stars FC two days later.