STANBIC UGANDA CUP: BUL FC OBTAIN SEMIFINAL SLOT DESPITE LOSS TO PROLINE

• BUL FC qualifies to semifinal for the second time in their history
• First leg goal advantage sees them through despite loss at home
• BUL lost their first game in the cup this years competition
• They have lost at home in every game they conceded first

BUL Football Club – Jinja advanced to the Uganda Cup Semifinal for the second time in history despite a 0-1 loss to defending champions – Proline FC on Monday.  Ivan Ocholit scored the only goal of the game five minutes to the halftime break but it was not enough to stop the Eastern Giants from progressing to the next stage.

The hosts came into the game with a two goal advantage earned from the first leg tie and was enough to send Alex Isabirye’s men through where they will aim to march to the finals for the first time

Early shots from Rogers Mato and Arnold Serunjogi failed to trouble Sanon Mulabi. Hamis Kizza was always threatening danger and a tight link up with team mates after eighteen minutes saw a series of one-twos force Proline through BUL’s defence but the forward’s shot was saved by Mulabi. 

Ocholit found the breakthrough for the visitors in the 40th minute after he tapped in an empty net when Sanon lost grip on the ball.

Douglas Bithum was thrown into the fray with Ramadan Dudu paving way for him in the 20th minute as Musa Esenu replaced Deogracious Ojok early in the second half but the Eastern Giants continued to find chances hard to come by to lessen the growing anxiety of a potential equaliser and spot kicks.

Robert Mukongotya came on for Thomas Kabbale sixteen minutes to the final whistle to open up Proline’s back line.

Simon Peter Oketch was pressing back and forth, and his pressure almost yielded in the 81st minute when he tried to retrieve the ball from Nicolas Sebwato but it went off the near post

Proline’s build-ups remained patient and measured and the defending champions continued to add to their goal-attempt stats. Joseph Mandela adding the most to that and hearts were in mouths when he found himself free, racing into box and firing a low shot that needed a pair of strong hands from Mulabi and the Eastern Giants held on until the final whistle to earn a place in the semifinals, their second feat in the competition with the first coming in 2015.

Starting XI against Proline FC

Sanon Mulabi (GK), Dennis Okot, Fredson Gwoto, Musa Walangalira, Ramathan Dudu, Godfrey Akol, Richard Wandyaka, Thomas Kabbale, Simon Peter Oketch, Joseph Semujju, Deogracious Ojok

Substitutes

Davis Mutebi, Owen Mukisa, Robert Mukongotya, Musa Esenu, Douglas Bithum, Fredrick Kigozi, Elvis Kibbale