Saturday, May 15
*SC Villa vs Vipers SC, Bombo @3pm
*BUL FC vs Solitilo Bright Stars, Bugembe @4pm
*Wakiso Giants FC vs Kitara FC, Wakissha @4pm
*Express FC vs UPDF FC, Wankulukuku @4pm
*URA FC vs Police FC, Ndejje @4pm
*Mbarara City FC vs Onduparaka FC, Kakyeka @4pm
Team News
•URA will be boosted by the return of winger Joackim Ojera who missed the draw at Vipers SC through suspension.
•However, left-back Brian Majwega misses out due to accumulation of yellow cards.
•Goalkeeper Alionzi Nafian continues to be out with injury so Samuel Mwaka will continue to sit on the bench with Hannington Ssebwalunyo starting.
•Jackson Nunda continues to recover from injury as he awaits his debut for the Tax Collectors.
•Police FC will be with be without captain Tonny Mawejje who down with Malaria.
•Samuel Kayongo who has been out for a while continues to miss out due to injury.
•Frank Tumwesigye who has fitness issues will also not be part of the team.
•Derrick Kakooza will face a late fitness test to see whether he will feature.
Probable Lineups
URA FC – Hannington Ssebwalunyo (GK), Shafik Kagimu, Hudu Mulikyi, Patrick Mbowa, Ashraf Mandela, Arafat Galiwaango, Brian Nkuubi, Steven Mukwala, Benjamin Nyakoojo, Moses Sseruyidde, Cromwel Rwothomio.
Police FC – Tom Ikarah (GK), Dennis Rukuundo, Ruben Kimera, Henry Katongole, Hassan Mahmood, Yusuf Ssozi, Fahad Kizito, Muwadda Mawejje, Ben Ocen, Duncan Sseninde, Brian Mululi.
Preview
URA have a chance to close in on the title when they host Police FC on Saturday.
With just seven games to play, URA still holds a one-point lead atop the log and all they need to do is take care of their games.
Ever since the loss to Express at the start of April, URA are yet to lose another game (W4 D3).
They have since beaten KCCA FC, BUL FC, Mbarara City FC and Onduparaka FC. All these four victories have come at home with the draws on the road.
Their last game ended in a 1-1 draw at Vipers in a game that saw the Tax Collectors concede the equalizer with just five minutes on the clock.
Throwing away three points was not a welcome sight for URA but getting a point at the home of their closest challengers was not the worst result at the end of it all.
The only negative from match-day 23 was the fact that the draw allowed third placed Express to move to within two points of URA and now it is a three-course race for the title.
The good news for the Tax Collectors is the fact that Friday’s fixture is another home game for them.
URA have been perfect in all their last seven home games and will be expected to bag three points again.
The last time they failed to take all three points from a league-home fixture was in the 0-0 draw against Wakiso Giants on February 20th.
With the striking duo of Cromwel Rwothomio and Steven Mukwala fit once again, anything short of a victory will spell disaster for the Tax Collectors.
For Police, they come up against another test after drawing 0-0 with KCCA earlier in the week.
After a great start to the season, the Cops look to have dropped a bit in terms of their form.
They come into Saturday’s game on a three-match winless run, losing twice and drawing the other.
The poor run of form has seen Abdallah Mubiru’s fail to climb into the top four as they currently occupy 5th on the log with 38 points, level with fourth placed KCCA FC.
Returning on the road will not be a welcome sight for the Cops as they have lost both of their last two away games.
They were beaten by Wakiso Giants FC 3-1 before missing a penalty as they went down 2-0 at Express FC.
Police are a side that usually thrives at home and a trip to Ndejje may prove to be too much for them in the end.
Match Stats
This will be the 22nd meeting between the two sides since January 2011.
URA have been dominant in this fixture, winning 13 and losing just three.
This fixture has not produced a home victory in any of the last five matches with four wins witnessed and a draw.
URA comes into the game having failed to beat Police in all their past two home fixtures (D1 L1).
The last time Sam Simbwa’s defeated Police at home was in a 2-0 victory back in March 2018.
Last season, Police won 2-1 at Ndejje despite URA winning 1-0 at Lugogo.
The reverse fixture this season produced a 2-0 victory for URA.
