KCCA FC and SC Villa currently brag the rights to be called the country’s biggest football giants. The two share 27 league titles between them with the Jogoos holding the record with 16 in their cabinet. In fact it would be 46 local trophies if the Uganda cup is considered.
The two lock horns on Tuesday evening in a gargantuan derby that could have a bearing in the eventual title race. The Kasasiros cling on top of the table with 25 points, four more than their day’s visitor who still have one game at hand.
A win will see the leaders stretch gap to seven points while the other way round will cut the gap to one. KCCA FC have won three of the last four titles while SC Villa have nothing to show in the last twelve years.
Sulaimon Akinyemi’s 85th minute strike on May 6th at Nakivubo against the Jogoos moved the Kasasiros to one point behind their LA Undecima. They eventually grabbed it with a draw at Express.
The city lords are unbeaten against the Jogoos in eight straight league matches since May 2012 winning four and standoffs in the other four. Infact Villa has no win at Lugogo in over seven solid years.
Mutebi’s boys are on a five game winning streak at Lugogo. In that period, they have conceded only twice with JMC (2-1), Soana (2-0), The Saints (3-0), Express (3-1) and Police (3-0) all falling
Villa’s away form has been hot and cold with only two wins against struggling Jinja sides Sadolin and Bul FC, two barren draws at Lweza and Police then a loss in Arua.
Coach Shafiq Bisaso has picked maximum points in the three he has been in charge including a thrilling 3-2 result over Express in a controversial derby on Saturday.
Coach Mutebi and a host of KCCA FC players including Captain Dennis Okot, Kirabira, Muleme, Ssentongo and Musana have all featured for Villa at one time while Yasin Mugabi returns to haunt his immediate former club.
Mutebi waters down the perceived pecking order in his attackline that has Ssentongo, Nsibambi and Sserunkuma especially in the case of the former who has had relatively less time.
“The tactical acumen of my players has improved, so whoever is given a role to play on the field will execute to the best of their knowledge,” he said.
“Its not about who starts and who sits out but we field according to the demands of the game. Ssentongo is very important to us.”
Timothy Awany is returning from an injury and will start on Tuesday but the game comes too early for Hakim Senkumba.
SC Villa will not have Vitalis Tabu after suspending him for indiscipline but the rest of the squad is fit for selection.
“We have no pressure because it’s just like any other game we’ve been playing. So we going for the best result,” Bisaso said.
Possible lineups.
KCCA: B. Ochan, D.Okot, T. Awany, H. Kavuma, J. Ochaya, G. Sserunkuma, P. Mucuurezi, m. Mutyaba, I. Kirabira, D. Nsibambi
SC Villa: Y. Mugabi, A. Kisalita, Y. Waibi, I. Kiyemba, P. Mbowa, Tadeo Lwanga, G. Lwesibawa, A. Kirya, A. Kitata, U. Kasumba, M. Sserumaga.