StarTimes Uganda Premier League
Onduparaka FC vs Express FC
Green Light Stadium, Arua
Saturday, 04-05-2019 @4pm
ARUA – This has been a disappointing season for Onduparaka.
After a stellar 2017/18 season in which they finished 4th, Onduparaka hoped to improve this campaign but have fallen short somehow.
With only one game to play, the Arua based cannot finish any better than 5th, the position they sit in before a kick of the ball on Saturday.
With a victory against Express putting them on 47 points, they will have also failed to match or better last season’s tally of 48.
Not that the situation calls for alarm bells to be sound, no. But who wouldn’t want to witness some sort of improvement? For the Onduparaka faithful, they will have to go back and look at where they fell short and hope their side improves.
Against Express, they take on a side that has almost all their focus elsewhere. The Red Eagles are in the semifinals of the Uganda Cup and take on Bright Stars in the second leg earlier next week.
With a first major trophy since 2012 only two games away, Express can be forgiven for not taking Saturday’s game seriously.
“Our focus is on the Cup mainly but due to formalities, we know we have to play Onduparaka, says Express Coach George Ssemwogerere.
“We will try to use the Onduparaka game as part of the preparations for the second leg against Bright Stars next week.
“We go into Arua eyeing to win so as we boost our confidence before Bright Stars comes to Wankulukuku.
Express are expected to make wholesale changes to the team as they hand vital rest to some of their key players who are expected to be the focal point next week. However, they will be without the injured Arthur Kiggundu who suffered a nasty injury in the 1-1 draw with Bright Stars last Sunday.
Match Facts
This will be the 6th meeting between the two sides since Onduparaka were promoted to the top tier in 2016.
Express has never triumphed over Onduparaka in the first 5 meetings (D2 L3).
In the reverse fixture last season, the two sides drew 0-0.
When they met in the first game this campaign, Onduparaka defeated Express 2-0 at Wankulukuku.
Going into the game, Onduparaka are on a three-match unbeaten run, winning two and drawing one.
At home, Onduparaka have lost only one of their last 12 games this season (W6 D5).
For Express, they head into the game having lost only once in their last 5 league outings (W3 D1).
However, away from home, the Red Eagles have lost all of their last three League games conceding 6 goals whilst scoring only once.
Match Officials
-Center Referee: Paul Omara
–Assistant Referee 1: Dick Okello
–Assistant Referee 2: Tonny Agir
–Fourth Official: Deogracious Opio
–Referee Assessor: David Davis Katabira
Other match-day 30 games
–Mbarara City Vs Police – Kakyeka Stadium, Mbarara
–KCCA Vs Maroons – Star Times Stadium, Lugogo
–Vipers Vs BUL – St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende
–Kirinya-Jinja S.S Vs Ndejje University – Mighty Arena, Jinja
–Tooro United Vs URA – Kavumba Recreational Stadium
–Bright Stars Vs Paidha Black Angels – Champions Stadium, Mwererwe
–SC Villa Vs Nyamitybora – Mandela National Stadium, Namboole
