Sizoni Pamoja: Review of Match Day 5

Match Day 5 of Sizoni Pamoja was concluded on Independence Day, with only eight of the scheduled nine fixtures played. UPDF vs BUL was postponed after the fixture coincided with the Crested Cranes’ match, which was planned at the same venue, Hamz stadium, Nakivubo and time.

The eight matches produced 15 goals, yielding four home wins, two away victories and two draws.

A look at some of the key talking points from the matchday follows.

Vipers, Maroons and UPPC on rampage

Vipers, Maroons and UPPC delivered the most emphatic performances of Match Day 5. In Hoima, Vipers condemned Blacks Power to their second consecutive defeat with a commanding 4–0 victory. Gusto Mulongo netted twice, while Milton Karisa and Usama Arafat added a goal each. The Venoms have now scored seven goals in two matches following their Match Day 4 victory over Ntugasaze, climbing to ninth with two games in hand.

Maroons eased past Lugazi 3–0 at home, inflicting their second consecutive defeat and third of the season. Fred Amaku, Dickson Niwamanya and Baden Mujahid were on target. The victory marked Maroons’ second of the campaign, offering relief after back-to-back losses and lifting them to 10th with six points.

At Nakivubo, UPPC continued their impressive run with a commanding 3–0 win over Police. Stephen Munguchi’s brace gave them an early advantage before second-half substitute Ambrose Kigozi completed the scoring. The victory propelled UPPC to fourth place.

NEC, SC Villa fail to capitalise

With leaders BUL sitting on 12 points and their fixture postponed, SC Villa and NEC had an opportunity to leapfrog them, having entered Match Day 5 on 10 points each. However, neither side capitalised, as both settled for draws.

SC Villa needed a 71^st -minute penalty, converted by Najib Yiga, to cancel out Ali Ssentamu’s earlier strike in a 1–1 stalemate in Bukedea.

Meanwhile, Express held NEC to a goalless draw at MTN Omondi Stadium. Although NEC went into the fixture with a relative upper hand, Express grew into the contest, dominating particularly in the second half and creating most of the clear-cut chances.

Both sides moved to 11 points, with NEC retaining second place and SC Villa third as Express sits 13^th at 5 points and Kataka in 17^th place with only 2 points.

Ntugasaze, Kitara off the mark

Mbarara City, Kataka and Kigezi HomeBoyz were among the sides yet to register a win before Match Day 5, alongside Ntugasaze and Kitara. However, the latter two finally got off the mark, each securing a narrow 1–0 victory.

At Kiira Road Arena, Jacob Opar’s decisive strike handed Ntugasaze their first win of the season against Mbarara City, lifting the Brewers from the foot of the table to 15^th position.

In Hoima, Edward Namasa’s goal against Kigezi home boys guided Kitara to their maiden victory of the campaign, although they still have games in hand.

Elsewhere, KCCA recorded their second consecutive win after edging URA 1-0 in Nakivubo — Ivan Ahimbisibwe ‘s strike being the difference maker.

Red Card Galore

Between Match Days 1 and 4, only three red cards had been issued across the league. Match Day 5 alone matched that tally, with three players sent off in a single round of fixtures.

Mbarara City’s Ambrose Arinda was dismissed by referee Kimayo Stephen in his side’s defeat to Ntugasaze. Lugazi’s Francis Onekalit also saw red from referee Lucky Kasalirwe for a second bookable offence during their loss to Maroons. Meanwhile, Police defender Richard Matovu was sent off by referee Joshua Duula for a second bookable offence towards the end of the first half as his side lost to UPPC.

The season’s red-card tally now stands at six.

First sacking of the season

After a disappointing start to the season, Kigezi HomeBoyz parted ways with head coach Joseph Mutyaba following a five-game run of one draw and four defeats. The decision was announced after their narrow 1–0 loss to Kitara on Match Day 5 of Sizoni Pamoja.

His assistant Kefa Kisala was immediately appointed as his replacement, making Kigezi HomeBoyz the first UPL side to part ways with their head coach this season.

BEST TEAM

Derrick Ochan (Maroons)

Edward Namaasa (Kitara)

Kiryowa George (UPPC)

Agenoga Francis (Ntugasaze)

Duncan Sseninde (Express)

Jose Denilson Gomes (Kataka)

Jamal Ssimwogerere (Maroons)

Sammy Ssebaduka (KCCA)

Arafat Usama (Vipers)

Gusto Mulongo (Vipers)

Stephen Munguci (UPPC)

COACH: Dennis Lavagne (Vipers)

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