Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) football head coach Eric Kisuze is confident his side has what it takes to win gold when they face Bugema University at the football final of the 19th edition of the National University Games that are underway at Uganda Christian University (UCU).

To qualify for the final, UMU defeated Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) 3-1 in penalties following a 1-1 draw during an intense final yesterday.

While Bugema University defeated Nkumba 3-2 in penalties following a 0-0 draw.

"We are playing a stubborn side, they have many styles of play and we respect them. However, we are going to do whatever we can so that we win gold," said Kisuze.

It is going to be a dogfight given the fact that UMU is coming into the encounter as the University Football League (UFL) defending champions, while Bugema is the East Africa champions having defeated IUIU 1-0 last year in Ndejje.

The last time the two sides met each other was in the UFL group stages but UMU won at home(3-0)  before they shared points in Bugema after a goalless draw.

No one gave UMU a chance to reach the final stage after losing two opening matches against IUIU( 1-2) and (2-4) against Makerere University Business School (MUBS).

However, a 4-1 win against Kyambogo during the group stages offered them an opportunity to bounce back into quarter-final qualification calculations.

At the quarter-final stage, they defeated Makerere University to qualify for the semifinal where they shocked an ambitious side in IUIU to reach to the finals.

UMU will need the services of their second-choice goalkeeper Pius Akena if they are to progress past a stubborn Bugema.

This is because Akena was a hero as he served well the role of a truly dangerous substitute during a semifinal tie against IUIU as he came into the match in the extra time and saved two penalties which helped his side to qualify for the final.

" Akena saved us today I want to commend him for the performance he has displayed as a substitute. As coaches we decided to bring him in because Sadam Okoboi is not having a good tournament," added Kisuze.

UCU are the defending champions having defeated IUIU 2-0 during the 18th edition of the games that were hosted by the University of Kisubi (UNIK) in 2019.

National University Games -UCU

Results

Netball semifinal

UCU 67 Nkumba 35

Victoria 62 KU 50

Final today

UCU v Victoria

Football

Quarter final

UCU 0 Bugema 1

UMU 3 Makerere 0

Nkumba 3 MUBS 0

IUIU 5 BSU 0

Semifinal

Nkumba 0 Bugema 0( 3-2) penalties

IUIU  1UMU 1( 3-1) penalties

Final 

UMU v Bugema