Uganda Premier League (UPL) champions KCCA FC hope to extend their grip on top of the 16-team table standings when they face Sadolin Paints FC today, writes MOSES MUGALU.
The odds are hugely in favour of Mike Mutebi’s men as they travel to Bugembe stadium this afternoon for the scheduled match against Sadolin, a least-fashionable but warmly-regarded midtable team.
Going by their recent form, KCCA are overwhelming pre-match favourites to walk away with maximum points from tonight’s sole UPL fixture. The Yellows are coming off a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Proline at home last weekend.
But in their previous games, the champions had notched emphatic victories including 3-0 and 3-1 thumping of Police and SC Villa respectively at their Phillip Omondi stadium.
However, KCCA’s performance on the road has delivered a bag of mixed fortunes; reaping one draw, three wins and two losses. Away from home, the champions have beaten Bright Stars (2-1), Bul (3-1) and Lweza (1-0) but succumbed to defeat at the hands of Vipers and Onduparaka with an identical 1-2 score margin.
Interestingly, KCCA’s only draw in the league so far, happened in Busoga region where they were held to a one-all stalemate by Kirinya-Jinja SS on October 11. That could become one of the motivating factors for Sadolin to attack their visitors with more confidence in today’s match.
Another notable morale booster for the hosts is their unbeaten five-match run, which includes a respectable goal-less draw with Express FC at Wankulukuku last weekend.
Mutebi cautioned his players on the threat posed by Sadolin playing before their home crowd. He has particularly demanded more from his defenders whom he feels have conceded easy goals in recent matches.
In comparision, Sadolin (eights goals) have defended better than KCCA, who have conceded 12 goals so far.Last season, KCCA beat Sadolin 3-0 at Bugembe and the reverse fixture ended in a one-all draw at Nakivubo stadium.