Miltary vs Simba

By Joseph Kabuleta, Joseph Wanzusi and Ali Mao SCOUL vs Iganga Heroes vs Horizon Sunday Rock Stars vs Horizon Black Rhino vs Chicago Over the years, one club out of the non-traditional giants stands tall to rival for championship honours and possibly Kakungulu Cup glory. Although, by design, such clubs are pacesetters and are not good enough to last the distance, they always have a hand in deciding the champion. That mantle switched from Simba in 1998 to Military Police last year. Both led the table for sometime in their respective seasons of bliss, and lost in the Kakungulu Cup final to SC Villa. Now the two meet today in a tie that will decide who will be the king-maker for this season. Sam Ssimbwa, the man who distinguished himself as a cheer-leader for whichever club he coached, has been unusually silent since he moved to Military. Anyone who saw his side play out a dour draw in Mbale Heroes last weekend will know why the coach isn't blowing off his mouth. Military will have to do without libero Ronald Empango, who got injured training with the national team, and creative force Baker Ssenabulya who is also injured. It is a blessing in disguise for them that Patrick Mbaziira was dropped from the Cranes team that travelled to Senegal, a decision that angered Ssimbwa. "I don't think any of those midfielders who travelled is better than Mbaziira, it's just that they always have a team figured out and others are called to make up the numbers," Ssimbwa said Ayub Balyejjusa and Kassim Buyondo will be in the midfield for Military while either Ronald Kayanja or Fred Habineza will cash in on Empango's absence. "I believe Simba and us are at the same level," Ssimbwa added. Simba midfielder David Kalungi and striker Alex Ssebitosi will have to pass late fitness tests while young goalkeeper Benjamin Ekusai, who hasn't featured at the top level yet, might be thrown it at the deep end. rSCOUL will be without their coach Leo Adraa when they face Iganga in a tie that is always the toast of Eastern Uganda. rBurundian midfielder Abdalla Irabona together with Kenyan right winger Richard Asabe are set to bolster Heroes squad against new comers Horizon. Coach Charles Namakola said the two who missed the opening match against military reported for training sessions midweek. "We want to get maximum points," Namakola said. Youthful right-winger George Sebuliba deserted Heroes for unknown reasons but the Mbale club is making arrangements to register former Iganga midfielder Sulaiman Lubonda. Heroes striking line will be led by Nicholas Boban, Julius Okocha and Hesbron Mundia. Little known Horizon travel to Mbale after losing a 1-0 to Masaka LC in their opening match at Kabale last Saturday. rLira's Black Rhinos host Chicago United in a battle of the newly-promoted on Sunday. Lira coach Ogwal, whose team lost 1-0 to Police in their first league match of the season, said he is determined to reverse the trend. "The first defeat will not demoralise us, the fact that we lost to Police does not mean we are weak, we are determined to beat all the visiting teams," he said. rRock Stars will also host Horizon on Sunday in a relegation battle that starts at the very beginning of the season. Rock Stars will take comfort from their 2-2 draw with Chicago as they face Horizon, which is yet to get a top-flight point. Ends