Kitende, Kibuli & Mvara storm Copa quarters

By Samson Opus

COPA Coca-Cola

Second round

St. Julian 1 Hill View 0

Risah 0 Mvara SS 1

Kitende 5 Arua Public 0

Kibuli SS 1 (5) Lubiri SS 1 (4)

Later on Tuesday

Budo SS v Nakaseke International

Kigezi High v Masaka SS

Mehta S v Kihihi SS

Citizen v Mandela SS 

HOLDERS St. Mary’s SS Kitende led the way as Mvara SS, Kibuli SS and St. Julian High roared into Wednesday’s COPA Coca-Cola quarterfinal.

Seven-time champions Kitende announced their intent with a 5-0 rout of Arua Public SS in the second round.

Kibuli SS edged Lubiri SS 5-4 on spot kicks after both teams settled one-all in regular time while Mvara and St. Julian edged out Risah College and Hill View College 1-0 respectively.

Pius Wanji struck four as Kitende tore apart a physical Arua side in front of a mammoth crowd at St. Joseph’s College Layibi.

A highly paced Kitende coasted into the lead early in the first minute when Wanji beat a flat-footed Arua defence after latching on a deep cross from Nasri Mbabali.

After taking the lead, the Wakiso giants could not allow Arua to settle down as they ran rings around them. Wanji was again on target five minutes later before Fred Okot made it 3-0 before the recess.

“We should have won by 10 goals, but they proved very rough. All the same, I am very happy because I am still in business as usual,” declared Kitende head coach Edward Golola following the triumph.

Mvara needed only a sole strike from Stewart Amanda early in the first half before defenders Muhammad Swaridahab, Denis Wadia, Mustafa Bogere and Eric Uyirwoth held off Risah’s attacks to secure the win.