TOUGH BATTLE FOR TOP SPOT
BEFORE the start of the season, much was said of how SC Villa is a one-man team. That without Steven Bengo, the 16-time soccer league champions are an ordinary outfit.
By Fred Kaweesi N.Katende & S.Kenyi
Today, 4pm
SC Villa v Simba
Bunamwaya v Maji
Friday
KCC FC v Nalubaale
BEFORE the start of the season, much was said of how SC Villa is a one-man team. That without Steven Bengo, the 16-time soccer league champions are an ordinary outfit.
Six months down the road, all Bengo theories have been consigned to history, thanks in large part to the club’s ‘all-expansive approach’ this season.
In fact, Villa’s current renaissance has been down to the team’s success in principally learning to play without the youthful midfielder, and in the process bringing the best out of of Chrisestom Ntambi and Emmanuel Okwi.
The two teenagers have been a revelation so far, with match-winning performances from either incisive passing or deadball situations. They could prove the difference in today’s top-of-the table clash against army side Simba.
“They have done wonders, Ntambi in particular,†Villa coach Sula Kato stated.
Kato had earlier been skeptical about Ntambi’s ability to settle in at the creative hub of the team in his debut season.
Team depth has been the other positive that has on the other hand undermined Simba’s impressive start to the season.
Coach Sam Ssimbwa has virtually fielded the same starting side since the season started, and something was always going to give way as regards to the team’s stamina.
At Nakivubo, Bunamwaya’s fixture against Maji could be decided by the remarkable influence of the club’s cluster of Cranes stars Caesar Okhuti, Yuda Mugalu, Owen Kasule and Ronald Muganga.
* KCC FC coach George Nsimbe is not qualified to handle a Super League side, according to FUFA’s coaches ranking system.
Under new FUFA rules, Super Division clubs should only hire coaches who are listed in the Grade A category. Nsimbe, rated B, is the only Super Division coach who did not make the grade.
The grading was done by technical director Edgar Watson, and national coach Bobby Williamson. The grading that had 244 coaches being examined, put 85 in Group A, 108 in Group B and 51 in Group C.
* A select Cranes team will have friendly games next month in Masaka and Jinja as part of their buildup to the Challenge Cup that Uganda hosts.
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Super League standings
P W D L F A Pts
KCC 16 12 1 3 28 11 37
SC Villa 16 11 3 2 33 12 36
Simba 16 11 3 2 24 10 36
Buna’ 16 10 4 2 33 10 34
Nalubaale 16 10 4 2 22 7 34
URA 16 9 4 3 32 10 31
Victors 16 6 8 2 18 11 26
Police 16 8 1 7 18 13 25
Express 16 7 3 6 13 15 24
Kinyara 17 6 4 7 18 22 22
Iganga 16 4 6 6 12 16 18
Maji 16 5 3 8 16 21 18
Boroboro 16 4 3 9 10 20 15
Mbarara 16 2 7 7 10 16 13
Sharing 17 3 3 11 12 48 12
Youfra 16 2 2 12 9 29 8
Bugerere 16 1 4 11 8 24 7
Kakira 10 0 5 11 15 34 5
Today, 4pm
SC Villa v Simba
Bunamwaya v Maji
Friday
KCC FC v Nalubaale
BEFORE the start of the season, much was said of how SC Villa is a one-man team. That without Steven Bengo, the 16-time soccer league champions are an ordinary outfit.
Six months down the road, all Bengo theories have been consigned to history, thanks in large part to the club’s ‘all-expansive approach’ this season.
In fact, Villa’s current renaissance has been down to the team’s success in principally learning to play without the youthful midfielder, and in the process bringing the best out of of Chrisestom Ntambi and Emmanuel Okwi.
The two teenagers have been a revelation so far, with match-winning performances from either incisive passing or deadball situations. They could prove the difference in today’s top-of-the table clash against army side Simba.
“They have done wonders, Ntambi in particular,†Villa coach Sula Kato stated.
Kato had earlier been skeptical about Ntambi’s ability to settle in at the creative hub of the team in his debut season.
Team depth has been the other positive that has on the other hand undermined Simba’s impressive start to the season.
Coach Sam Ssimbwa has virtually fielded the same starting side since the season started, and something was always going to give way as regards to the team’s stamina.
At Nakivubo, Bunamwaya’s fixture against Maji could be decided by the remarkable influence of the club’s cluster of Cranes stars Caesar Okhuti, Yuda Mugalu, Owen Kasule and Ronald Muganga.
* KCC FC coach George Nsimbe is not qualified to handle a Super League side, according to FUFA’s coaches ranking system.
Under new FUFA rules, Super Division clubs should only hire coaches who are listed in the Grade A category. Nsimbe, rated B, is the only Super Division coach who did not make the grade.
The grading was done by technical director Edgar Watson, and national coach Bobby Williamson. The grading that had 244 coaches being examined, put 85 in Group A, 108 in Group B and 51 in Group C.
* A select Cranes team will have friendly games next month in Masaka and Jinja as part of their buildup to the Challenge Cup that Uganda hosts.
------------------------------------
Super League standings
P W D L F A Pts
KCC 16 12 1 3 28 11 37
SC Villa 16 11 3 2 33 12 36
Simba 16 11 3 2 24 10 36
Buna’ 16 10 4 2 33 10 34
Nalubaale 16 10 4 2 22 7 34
URA 16 9 4 3 32 10 31
Victors 16 6 8 2 18 11 26
Police 16 8 1 7 18 13 25
Express 16 7 3 6 13 15 24
Kinyara 17 6 4 7 18 22 22
Iganga 16 4 6 6 12 16 18
Maji 16 5 3 8 16 21 18
Boroboro 16 4 3 9 10 20 15
Mbarara 16 2 7 7 10 16 13
Sharing 17 3 3 11 12 48 12
Youfra 16 2 2 12 9 29 8
Bugerere 16 1 4 11 8 24 7
Kakira 10 0 5 11 15 34 5