UPL preview: Express FC take on Maroons in relegation battle

StarTimes Uganda Premier League

Thursday fixture

Maroons v Express

4 pm

At Luzira Prison Grounds.

Friday fixtures

Wakiso Giants v Vipers SC

4:00pm

At Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium

URA v Police

4:30 pm

At Arena of Visions Ndejje

The last two meetings between Maroons and Express have all ended in stalemates.

On Thursday at the Luzira prison grounds, the two sides that are separated by four points will clash in a relegation battle.

Coaches on either side will have different ambitions aside from getting the three points to brighten their chances of surviving.

Express tactician Wasswa Bbossa has not healed from the 4-3 penalty shootout defeat in the Stanbic Uganda Cup round of 34 by Maroons at Kavumba Recreation Centre last month that ended the club's chance of winning silverware this season.

Douglas Bamweyana, the Maroons coach still recalls the 'unfair treatment' he was subjected to by a section of officials, fans and some players, while still the head coach of Express in 2017 before he resigned.

Assessing the current performance of the two sides, Maroons are in a dangerous position having managed to avoid defeat once in the last six league games.

The climax of this poor run was witnessed last week at St Mary's Kitende where they were thumped 5-0 by the venoms.

There are claims that in a bid to save the Uganda Prisons Services funded team from the guillotine, players have been forced into residential training until the end of the season.

Bamweyana is, however, still optimistic that his side will negotiate the remaining duels to keep in the topflight.

Timothy Bamulanzeki, a Maroons left-back sounded no different from his tactician about the situation in the camp as far as surviving relegation is concerned.

"We have not yet started panicking, hope is still there for us to stay in the league," Bamulanzeki said.

"We are working as a team, and plan to begin with Thursday's game to get back to winning ways."

Fans on either side should expect a thrilling encounter.