David GOMBE
Monday, September 16
•SC Villa Vs Mbarara City – Wankulukuku
•Police Vs BUL – Kavumba
•Express Vs Mbale Heroes – Nakivubo, 7pm
Reigning Uganda Premier league champions SC Villa will kick start their title defense against Mbarara City on Monday at Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku.
The champions are currently under the stewardship of Morley Byekwaso following the departure of Serbian tactician Dusan Stojanovic.
Stojanovic ended Villa’s 20 year long wait without winning the title last season.
The Serb however mutually left the club after their disappointing CECAFA Kagame Cup campaign.
His assistant Byekwaso took over and will now have the onus guiding the side to back to back titles.
Key players including their skipper Kenneth Semakula, Umar Lutalo and Gavin Mugweri Kizito also left the club.
Villa have beefed up their squad with the acquisition of Tony Atukunda, Isaac Mpagi, Francis Onekalit, Najib Yiga, Denis Kaka, Hassan Mubiru, Geoffrey Lubangakene and experienced Sula Matovu alias Malouda.
The Jogoos also retained the best UPL player last season in Patrick Jonah Kakande and Uganda Cranes midfielder Ronald Ssekiganda.
Mbarara City on the other have reappointed Charles Livingstone Mbabazi as their new head coach.
He replaced Wasswa Bbosa who left the club at the end of last season after helping them overcome relegation.
The Ankole Lions finished a distant 10th on the League table last term with 32 points.
Players such as Pius Wangi, Amir Kakomo, Yunus Sibira, Ronald Mutebi have left the club but retained their key man in Henry Kitegenyi.
New signings including former SC Villa left back Joseph Kafumbe, Jamil Kalisa, Hassan Jurua are expected to be handed their debuts.
Last season, SC Villa smiled to a 2-1 victory over Mbarara at Wankulukuku but the two sides played out to a goalless stalemate in Mbarara.
Head to Head
2023/24
SC Villa 2-1 Mbarara City
Mbarara City 0-0 SC Villa
2021/22
SC Villa 2-0 Mbarara City
Mbarara City 1-0 SC Villa
2020/21
Mbarara City 2-1 Villa
SC Villa 3-0 Mbarara City
2019/20
Mbarara City Vs SC Villa (not played)
SC Villa 3-1 Mbarara City
2018/19
SC Villa 2-1 Mbarara City
Mbarara City 2-1 SC Villa
2017/18
Mbarara City 1-1 SC Villa
SC Villa 1-0 Mbarara City
