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As the FUFA Big League enters the final lane, Kitara, Mbarara City and NEC lead the pack and need to be steady at home.
Three games, four teams! The race is on as four teams -Kitara, Mbarara City, NEC and Police- battle for the three slots available in the next season’s StarTimes Uganda Premier League.
Kitara are favourites after leading the table for most parts of the season both under coaches Mark Twinamasiko and now under Sam Ssimbwa.
The Royals from Hoima are in the driving seat with 52 points, followed closely by Mbarara City and NEC on 51; the former is ahead because of a better goal difference, while Police keep the pressure in 4th with 47 points.
At this point, it’s Kitara to lose while the Cops have to work their tails off and pray for lady luck for any chances.
Home advantage
Going by their home form this season, all four have a chance to collect six points from their two remaining games at home.
They’ll all play one of those on Thursday in their penultimate games in front of their fans.
Kitara host Soroti City, Mbarara has Adjumani Town Council, NEC face Lugazi as Police play Northern Gateway who are already relegated.
Sam Ssimbwa only needs four points to return “Kitara back to where they belong”, as their fans demand, but he says a coach of his calibre, “the best on the land,” as he proclaims, has to win the trophy to confirm his royalty status.
His job is simple; match or better your competitors' points.
Kitara’s remaining fixtures;
May 23rd – vs Soroti City (H)
May 11th - Adjumani TC (A)
May 18th - Kaaro Karungi (H)
Rising Lions
Many pundits actually didn’t give Mbarara City a chance but with all due respect to everyone, coach Sadiq Ssempijji deserves all the credit.
The coach assembled a squad largely of new players but blended them with a few old guns like Henry Kitegenyi who has provided 16 goals.
A 1-0 win against Soroti City last week showed his team’s determination because that was the only other occasion they picked maximum points in 15 attempts.
The other was against Ndejje University on December 2nd!
If they keep their form at home and beat both Adjumani today and then Northern Gateway on the last day, they’re good to go but to win the title, they may need to pick points away to Kaaro Karungi in Ibanda and pray Kitara slips somewhere.
Mbarara City’s remaining fixtures;
May 23rd – vs Adjumani TC (H)
May 11th - Kaaro Karungi (A)
May 18th –Northern Gateway (H)
Dark horse
How many knew NEC before the season? Well, the side funded by the commercial arm of the UPDF, has taken the league by storm and has a high chance of promotion.
The team has been riding on experienced players and their on-form captain Marvin Kavuma.
Just like the Ankole Lions, they need to win two of their remaining games to go through.
However, for them, those two -Lugazi and Kyetume- follow each other before they finish the business away to a Kataka side that is fighting relegation. So, today and next week are very crucial to their campaign.
NEC’s remaining fixtures;
May 23rd – vs Lugazi (H)
May 11th - Kyetume (H)
May 18th - Kataka (A)
Cops hang in balance
Police can only blame themselves if they fail to qualify. They’ve played several games after their rivals faltered but didn’t take advantage.
Their 1-0 loss to Kaaro Karungi on Sunday spelt doom and gave their rivals breathing space of four points where they can still afford a slip and still maintain the lead.
Angelo Lonyesi’s side will need a serious miracle or moment of madness to get back into the equation.
Police’s remaining fixtures;
May 23rd – vs Northern Gateway (H)
May 11th - Booma (A)
May 18th - Jinja North United (H)
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