The 2024 Buganda Cup reached Quarterfinals stage having started on Friday 8 March.
Opening day got followed by two days of action in football at 4 pitches with Kawanda SS standing as main venue. Across the venues we saw abnormal norms of the game.
From less medical attention close to zero, to a team playing two games without resting and playing game without half time interval as all games lasts for less 40 minutes.
Back to team performance it was hard to decide whether the teams are competitive enough though it appeared to be.
Out of the four round of 16 teams games 3 were decided on penalty shootouts after ending goalless draws.
Standard High Zzana defeated Royal Giants 4-3, St Janan also stormed quarterfinals after eliminating Kawempe Royal College 5-4 in superb penalty taking when 9 consecutive kicks were in right path for both teams until Ali Waiswa’s spot kick got saved by St. Janan’s goalie Jovan Ssembatya.
Nansana based Greenlight SS also booked a Quarterfinal slot as they beaten St. Francis SSS Busunju 6-5, Greenlight Goalkeeper Peter Makumbi saving two penalties.
Makumbi saved the opening penalty of St. Francis taken by Calvin Ssali and finished the business by saving decider taken by Bruno Obonyo while Charles Mugalu sent his force over the bar.
St. Francis’s goalkeeper Kevin Epawata also saved two denying Maurice Okello and Ian Tabinawa to put the into his net.
Denis Wadoya, Shakur Ngoobi, Rayan Kiwalabye, Henry Egesa, Henry Talemwa and Christian Terry Andabati were all on target for the victors, Greenlight while Ronald Kyambadde, Sunday Mark Okello Joseph Kalyango, Phillips Okello and Denis Elungat converted for St Francis.
St. Francis Coach Mr. James Kaweesi complained about the time saying.” It was just a way of finding how to survive, time didn’t allow us to play our best at the Knockout stage playing 20 minutes per half it was a joke yet we had unused hours after group stage games”
In another round of 16 tie was an easy walk for Uganda Martyrs High School Lubaga overcoming Kisubi Mapeera SS with a 3-1 win.
The other 4 games in remaining will come on Wednesday 13 March and as the host Kawanda SS will take on Kajjansi Progressive, Nile High will be up against Lubiri SS, City Land taking on Mengo SS and Gombe tassels it out with St Mbuga, with all games taking action in morning at Kawanda SS before quarterfinal clashes later in evening.
