Pilsner Super 8
Friday, 4pm
Mbarara City vs URA FC, Kakyeka
Wednesday result
Proline 0-1 Vipers SC
Sunday
Onduparaka vs Tooro United, Arua
After almost signing a new starting XI, Coach Sam Ssimbwa will hope to make amends from last year’s Pilsner Super 8 tournament when URA visits Mbarara City this Friday at Kakyeka stadium in their opening round fixture of this year’s edition.
Ssimbwa has signed 12 new players and let out 9 in a bid to build a strong competing squad ahead of the 2019/20 season.
The Tax Collectors were beaten on first asking by SC Villa in the inaugural edition of the competition last year. Ajab Abdulrahman scored the only goal in the 17th minute for an SC Villa side that was trying to assembly a squad then under Moses Basena.
“We are ready for the game and we shall try hard to get a win. The tournament will show us the team progress so far but like I earlier said, we are going for honors in every competition we take part in this coming season,” noted Ssimbwa.
Mbarara City are making their debut in this tournament initiated last year, having finished 11th in the previous 2017/18 premier league season.
The Pilsner Super 8 tournament accommodates the top six teams from the Premier league and the top two teams from the FUFA Big league groups.
The URA clash will be the first competitive fixture for youthful Coach Brian Ssenyondo, who was confirmed as Mbarara City Head coach on an interim basis last week. He replaced Livingstone Mbabazi that rejoined Onduparaka after leading the Ankole Lions to a 5thplace finish in last season premier league.
The former Synergy FC tactician will want to replicate his 2018 Uganda Cup heroics when he led a lower division synergy to the semi finals of the knockout tournament.
URA and Mbarara City have played to stalemates in the four meetings –with the last ending scoreless in April this year at Namboole stadium while the others have ended in a one-all draw.
Vipers draw first blood
Meanwhile, Vipers SC revenged against last season ejection out of Stanbic Uganda Cup at the quarter finals when they beat eventual champions Proline FC 1-0 in the first game of the 2019 Pilsner Super 8. New signing from Airtel-Masaza Cup, Ssese team Denis Mwemezi scored the only goal of the game played on Wednesday at the StarTimes stadium, Lugogo. The striker pounced on Aziz Kayondo’s lovely delivery from the left to nod home in the opening half at his Vipers SC debut.
KCCA tie rescheduled
In the same vein, the game between KCCA and Wakiso Giants was postponed from Thursday to next Tuesday as the tournament reigning champions have six players on the CHAN Cranes team that, with a 3-1 first leg advantage, host Somalia this Saturday in the CHAN 2020 qualifiers return leg.
