Afoyo shines as Booma hold Kitara in pulsating Bunyoro derby

Booma lived their word to take the game to Kitara as the Bonyoro derby lit up the Kigaaya grounds in Masindi.

Second-half substitute Hope Aganyira caused Sam Ssimbwa’s star-studded side a scare with a stunning long-range strike to give the visitors the lead.

Last season’s top scorer Clinton Kamugisha saved the flamboyant coach an embarrassment with the equaliser in the 4th minute of added time.

Afoyo stars

Leading scorer Dennis Omedia nearly put Booma in the lead inside the opening five minutes with a powerful strike but the ball skewed inches out.

Ssimbwa’s frustrations grew into halftime as his side failed to break Booma. The coach went for plan B at the beginning of the second half making a triple substitution pulling off debutant Paul Mucureezi, John Kisakye and George Senkaaba.

He brought on Patrick Muhumuza, Davies Ssali and Clinton Kamugisha. The former almost grabbed the lead when he struck in from a distance only for Richard Afooyo to tame the ball.

Edson Agondeze also came in and had his chance with six minutes to go but Afooyo parried it away for a corner.

Dramatic finish

Another opportunity presented itself with Agondeze heading from a goal-mouth melee but Swadiq Kolensi made a spectacular goal-line clearance. Ssimbwa and his troops heavily protested the referee’s decision claiming that the ball had crossed the line.

Aganyira drew the first blood in the 90th minute. The striker collected the ball from the centre and carried it about 25 yards to goal before thundering in to find Farouk Yawe off guard for the goal.

Kitara quickly restarted and forced Booma to backpedal. The pressure yielded when Omedia cleared out for a corner. Godfrey Lwesibawa curled in to find Kamugisha unmarked for the equaliser.

The point restores Kitara’s lead at the top of the table with 33 points, the same as NEC. The league continues tomorrow with Mbarara City hosting Jinja North at Kakyeka.