Express FC host SC Villa in Uganda’s oldest football rivalry
David GOMBE
•Express Vs SC Villa at Nakivubo (7PM)
Express FC will renew their rivalry with SC Villa in a mouthwatering league contest under the floodlights of Nakivubo on Friday.
The two most supported football clubs in the land will for the first time in eight years face off at Nakivubo. Both have a combined total of 24 league titles.
In recent times there’s rarely been a moment when both of the clubs were competing against each other to be the topper most of the poppermost.
When one’s up, the other’s down, though both clubs are so bloody big in the country that being “down” usually means a mid-to-higher table mediocrity.
This term, the two sides are separated by two points with SC Villa sixth on 11 points while Express are 11th with 9 points.
Express FC are a tough watch and last week’s goalless draw at Wakiso Giants was so lacking in entertainment and spark.
The Red Eagles have gone three games without registering victory and their only two wins this term have come at Nakivubo against Mbale Heroes FC and NEC FC respectively.
For SC Villa they ended their three match winless run with a 5-0 thrashing of UPDF FC last Friday at Wankulukuku.
The record and reigning league champions are yet to secure maximum points on the road this term having lost to Mbale Heroes FC and Vipers SC as well as a 1-1 draw at Maroons in their previous three visits.
Under the interim stewardship of Badru Kaddu, the Red Eagles will look up former SC Villa skipper Emmanuel Wasswa and Sam Ssenyonjo for inspiration.
Charles Lwanga fresh from netting four past UPDF FC, Patrick Jonah Kakande and Hakim Kiwanuka who received a national team call up are expected to light up the Jogoos attack.
Head to Head
SC Villa has an edge in this fixture having won 13, Express 6 victories in the previous 24 League meetings. Five games between the two sides have ended in stalemates.
The Jogoos have also prevailed over the Red Eagles in the previous four meeting.