Friday December 1st fulltime results:
- Wakiso Giants FC 0-3 BUL FC
- KCCA FC 6-1 Gaddafi FC
- URA FC 2-1 Express FC
BUL FC’s strong start to the 2023/24 StarTimes Uganda Premier League season continues with a comfortable 3-0 win against Wakiso Giants FC.
On Friday, the Oil Manufacturers defeated the Purple Sharks in the latter’s den, Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium, to extend their lead to 24 points on top of the 16-team SUPL log after nine games.
Martin Aprem bagged a brace, netting his goals in the 47th and 78th minutes, while the on-form Alex Kitata scored the other goal in the 49th minute.
As BUL stretched its lead at the summit, on the other hand, Wakiso continued to languish in the relegation zone with six points from nine outings in the 14th position.
Pressure is mounting on head coach John Ayala Luyinda after his charges managed a single victory this season, which came against UPDF FC in September thanks to a 2-0 win.
Meanwhile, Abbey Kikomeko is taking the SUPL by storm with BUL in his maiden campaign as their manager.
Under the stewardship of Kikomeko, the Eastern giants won the FUFA Super Eight tournament, and they have continued to impress in the league, winning eight and losing once in their nine matches. They were defeated 2-0 by UPDF in November.
Alex Kitata is proving unstoppable in front of goal after scoring his seventh goal of the campaign, and he is the joint-leading goal scorer with Bright Stars FC’s Nelson Ssenkatuka.
BUL will be on the road again on Tuesday, December 5, against Express FC at Wankulukuku. Wakiso will also visit fellow strugglers Arua Hill SC in Adjumani on the same day.
Meanwhile, the thirteen-time Uganda Premier League champions KCCA FC were at their brilliant best as they thrashed Gaddafi FC 6-1 at the MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo floodlights on Friday.
The Kasasiro Boys produced a resounding response to their 2-1 to Busoga United last time out, handing their new head coach Abdallah Mubiru his first win on his second try.
Braces from Usama Arafat and Muhammad Shaban, plus one each from Etienne Katenga and Dominic Ayella, ensured that KCCA picked their second win of the season.
Following a blistering start to the game, Katenga broke the deadlock in the 18th minute off brilliant individual work down the left before slotting in the top right corner.
Five minutes later, Shaban doubled KCCA’s lead with a powerful header following a superb Mustafa Kizza cross.
In the 25th minute, Shaban made it three and completed his brace with a well-controlled and calm finish off a Carlos Da Cungulo perfectly weighted pass.
Two minutes after the half-hour mark, Arafat got his name on the score-sheet with a first-time shot from inside the box as Gaddafi failed to clear their lines.
Arafat then wrapped up the first-half party with a brilliantly struck yet deflected bicycle-kick after being set by a Katenga cross.
With KCCA expected to return into the second half with more venom, its the visitors who netted their consolation, through a powerful shot from Sharif Ssengendo.
With three minutes to play, substitute Ayella rounded off the night with his second goal in as many goals, scoring in an empty net following a rebound.
Despite the result, KCCA are still stuck in the relegation zone, sitting 14th on the 16-team log with seven points in nine matches.
In their subsequent fixture, they will visit Mbarara City FC at the Kakyeka Stadium on December 6.
A day later, 10th-placed Gaddafi (10 points) will host fellow army side UPDF FC in Jinja.
While The Tax Collectors exhibited a rare fight and character as they fought from a goal down to sink the Red Eagles at the Mehta Stadium, Lugazi, on Friday.
After two previous tries in the Uganda Premier League, David Obua has finally overseen victory as URA FC head coach, edging boyhood club Express FC 2-1.
A fine performance from Moses Aliro, who netted one and assisted the other, plus a Laban Tibita winner ensured Obua’s first-ever three points with the four-time champions.
URA, under Obua, had lost once against Vipers SC and drawn the other (2-2) with Kitara in the first games in charge.
However, on Friday at home turf, the hosts got off to a fast start and should have been ahead after five minutes, but Tibita’s goal was contentiously ruled out for offside.
Against the run of play, it’s the guests who broke the deadlock through Isaac Wagoina, who capitalized on lazy goalkeeping from Denis Otim to poke the ball home after 26 games.
The hosts then mounted a fight and were rewarded in the 71st through an Aliro penalty after a foul in the box.
With four minutes to the 90, Tibita found the winner with a powerful effort past Martin Ssenkooto after a superb pass from Aliro.
Victory took URA sixth on the 16-team table with 13 points after nine matches.
They will hope to make it successive victories when they visit NEC FC on December 6.
However, Express dropped to eighth with 12 points after eight games. They will host leaders BUL FC in their next match on December 5.
