Villa to battle URA in final

By James Bakama and Swalley Kenyi

ANDREW Ssali nodded Bunamwaya into a second leg, semi-final win yesterday but the effort was not enough to prop Jackson Mayanja’s side into the Kakungulu Cup final.

Ssali seemed to defy gravity as he soared above everyone to head home in the dying minutes of the thrilling encounter at Namboole.

Villa captain Simeon Masaba battled Ssali and his celebrating colleagues when they moved to get the ball from the net.

But it was Jogoos who dominated play in a match they should have comfortably won if stocky Andrew Nkurunungi had been sharper.

Nkurunungi, who registered a brace in the first leg, was always either slow or shooting off target.

His worst moment camelate in the game when he opted to palm in a curling Stephen Bengo cross. FIFA referee Brian Nsubuga promptly yellow carded him.

Bengo had in the first half looked on in shock as his well curled free-kick was saved by goalkeeper Hamza Muwonge.

At the same time, URA FC coach Moses Basena now believes his team can recapture the Kakungulu Cup that has eluded them for the last four years.

URA last won the second biggest silverware in 2005 with Deo Sserwadda, now assistant tactician at Police FC.

But Basena’s side ejected the Cops with a 1-0 goal aggregate on Wednesday and he quickly declared interest to recapture the trophy.

“It is now 50-50 and we can win,” an excited Basena said after the victory.

“You cannot under-estimate our strength.

“My players are focused and they do what I tell them.”

The former Simba and KCC coach confessed that after a goalless draw in the first leg and with the first half of the second leg still with no goal, he had devise a fresh strategy to eject Police.

Basena’s approach paid off in the 53rd minute.when Cranes player Patrick Ochan converted a penalty.

The penalty however provoked protests from Police players during and after the match with the goalkeeper Joseph Ssebuliba charging at referee Dennis Batte in the tunnel.