David GOMBE
SC Villa under the stewardship of Zeljko Kovacevic will be playing in the Stanbic Uganda Cup final for the first time in eleven years when they battle Kitara FC on Saturday at FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.
Villa’s previous triumph came in 2015 when they beat KCCA FC 3-0 in the replayed final at Mandela National Stadium in Namboole.
The final was replayed after the initial game ended prematurely in the 72nd minute at the Kyamate play ground in Ntungamo when fans invaded the playing area following refereeing errors from Robert Donney.
SC Villa won the fixture at Namboole 3-0 to clinch their ninth Stanbic Uganda Cup title with Kenyan referee Oliver Omondi Odhiambo handling the contest.
Fellow countrymen Andrew Juma Otieno and Tony Mudayi Kidiya were the first and second assistants.
Augustine Nsumba gave the Jogoos the lead in the 32nd minute before Abdul Karim Kasule doubled their advantage in the 66th minute before substitute Yesseri Waibi sealed the victory in the final minutes of the game. KCCA FC defender Timothy Awanyi was sent off in the same contest.
Ibrahim Kirya who is currently the assistant coach to Serbian coach Zeljko Kovacevic was the man in charge of Villa at that time. Erisa Sekisambu was named as the best player while Fred Kyambadde of The Saints FC finished as the tournament top scorer with 6 goals to his name.
The Jogoos eye a record equaling 10th title following previous triumphs in 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2009 and 2015.
