FUFA Junior League 2017/18 finals
Vipers JT 1-0 Onduparaka JT
StarTimes stadium, Lugogo
Tuesday, 19-06-2018
Vipers JT were crowned champions of the 2017/18 Junior League on Tuesday evening after defeating Onduparaka 1-0 in the finals.
Uganda U-17 striker Sula Mpanga was the hero with the only goal in the match played at the StarTimes stadium in Lugogo.
Mpanga grabbed the headlines two minutes into the second half when he finished exquisitely past Safi Apangu in the Onduparaka goal.
From then on wards, Vipers dominated the game following an earlier surge by the West Nile youngsters who had an upper hand in the first half.
Onduparaka’s Silas Draku, Iddi Abdul Wahid, Anthony Kent, Salim Abdallahand Abdul Shakur had posed provocations and questions to the entire Vipers’ team and goalkeeper Mutwalibu Magolofa was alert at all times to thwart many goal bound attempts.
In the second half, Vipers turned around the game. A goal by Mpanga two minutes into the half gave them the command.
Attempts by the Junior Caterpillars to make amends hit a where not successful.
Tempers flared in the closing stages and Silas Draku was sent off by referee Lucky Razake Kasalirwe for a second bookable offence.
The game nearly turned nasty when a section of angry fans pelted stones towards the second assistant referee, causing a five minute stoppage.
When the game resumed, Onduparaka had no time to produce anything meaningful interms of chances until the sound of the final whistle.
This is the second time that Vipers Junior Team were celebrating on the podium since their triumph in the 2015/16 season.
After the game, Vipers’ Bakabulindi was named Most Valuable Player (MVP), Sadat Anaku (KCCA) finished as top scorer with 26 goals for the second season in a row.
Meanwhile, KCCA Soccer Academy’s Joram Nsubuga was named best goalkeeper having conceded just 10 goals in the entire season.
Vipers Juniors Head coach Ronald Ssali took the best tactician award and Kirinya-Jinja S.S Junior team won the fair play award.
Last season, Soana Junior Team won the FUFA Juniors League after overcoming KCCA Soccer Academy 5-4 in a tense post match penalty shoot out which followed a goal-less draw in 90 minutes at the Kakindu Stadium in Jinja.
Team starting teams:
Vipers XI:
Mutwalibu Magolofa (G.K), Azizi Abdu Kayondo, Reagan Kasumba, Thomas Kakaire, Moses Bakabulindi, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Sula Mpanga, Ivan Ashaba, Gerald Kirya, Andrew Kirunda, Alex Kizito
Onduparaka XI:
Safi Apangu (G.K), John Rogers, Francis Econi (Captain), Muhamed Rasul, Taban Wijo, Farouk Edema, Silas Draku, Iddi Abdul Wahid, Anthony Kent, Salim Abdallah, Abdul Shakur
