UFL: MUBS completes double over Nkumba as they maintain perfect run

Makerere University Business School (MUBS) beat Nkumba University 1-0 in Nkumba yesterday to complete a double over their fierce rivals, as they maintained their perfect run in this year’s Pepsi University Football League.

Nasser Ssegaabwe’s first-half strike ensured MUBS, fresh from picking a silver medal in FASU games, picked their 5th win on the road to remain top of Group B, with knockout qualification already ensured for them. MUBS is now on 15 points while Nkumba remains second on nine.

Nasser Segaawe of MUBS celebrates his goal against Nkumba. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Even without six starters due to injury and fatigue, Charles Ayiekoh’s side dominated proceedings and remained on course of finishing the group stage without conceding a goal as they eye winning the title again.

“I’m excited because we have beaten Nkumba home and away for the first time and our performance in Nairobi has also ensured the morale remains high,” Ayiekoh said post-match.

“The win is good for our confidence. The boys are doing the right things, we are scoring in every game and our depth is also helping because it was difficult to realise that we were missing six starter players. Everyone wants to contribute and it is good for us because we want to win this edition as well as defend the East African University title in Ndejje,” Ayiekoh stated.

Talibu Yokole of MUBS (left) contests the ball with Nasser Segaawe of Nkumba during a University Football League match

Nkumba was left to lure the missed chances that would have helped with at least a point, and which would lessen the pressure on them, though they on paper have already qualified for the knockouts alongside MUBS.

Michael Kimera, Felix Agumombeki, Augustine Khatiya, and Kennedy Ssewankambo all had opportunities to bring Nkumba back into the game but weren’t clinical enough.

And they had lost striker Paul Biko and captain Eric Uyirwoth to injury in the first half.

The visitors also missed several chances of their own through Sharif Ssengendo, Shafi Omar, and Joseph Otema.

“It's unfortunate that we have not picked a point and now have to ensure we pick a point away in Arua against Muni to finish the preliminaries respectably. We suffered early injuries to key players in the game and that cost us,” Nkumba coach Sulaiman Bbosa noted.

Both teams tried to play a possession game and should have got to the score sheet but each side missed several scoring chances with the bumpy and slanting ground not helping matters.

On his part, goalscorer Ssegaabwe is determined to continue working hard not only to help his side win the league but also the East Africa University Games in December and the FISU World Games football trophy thereafter.

“We played very well and deserved to win. Even in the FASU games, we went as underdogs but we left a mark. Our target is to win everything this season and personally, that is my target,” Ssegaabwe stated.