Copa Coca-Cola 2019 final
Saturday, 4pm
Final
Jinja SS vs St Mary’s Kitende, Kakindu
Third place playoff
Buddo SS vs Standard High-Zana, 2pm
St Mary’s SS, Kitende will be looking to avenge their 2017 defeat at the hands of Jinja SS when the two sides clash this Saturday afternoon in the 2019 final at the Kakindu grounds, Jinja.
The 2017 champions beat Kitende 4-3 in penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final at the Masaka recreational grounds to win their maiden Copa Coca-Cola title.
Kitende, who are eight-time champions, beat last year’s champions Buddo SS 7-6 in penalties following a 1-1 draw in the first semi final at the Kakindu grounds on Friday.
Kitende had earlier lost to Buddo in same fashion during the Wakiso regional qualifiers and thus victory was celebrated to the moon by the 2015 champions.
Abdul Karimu Watambala gave Kitende lead with a thunderous shot after 10 minutes of the immensely physical tie, but the East African champions found the equalizer through Emanuel Loki at half hour mark.
In the dramatic second semi final, 2017 champions and fans’ favorite Jinja SS controversially beat 10-man Standard High-Zana 1-0 in a tie that ended in tear gas still at Kakindu grounds.
Asharaf Kawasi scored the only important goal to set a repeat of the 2017 final.
There was change of referees and restart of the game. The drama was after the previous set of referees failed to handle the tempo of the game, disallowing two goals, one from either side in a space of a minute.
Before St Mary’s SS-Kitende takes on Jinja SS in the final, Buddo SS will play Standard High-Zana in the third place playoff. The four semi finalists will represent the country in the 2019 East African championship due August.
