MATCH PREVIEW: MAROONS VS BUL FC

Friday 23rd February 2024

Uganda Premier League

Maroons Vs BUL FC

Luzira prisons ground

Kick-off: 4pm

BUL FC is on the road again, making the trip to Luzira to take on Maroons in the Uganda premier league on Friday at the Luzira prisons ground. It is the third game in succession BUL is playing out of their Njeru territories having featured in two away Uganda cup matches before this one.

The Eastern Giants come into the game off the back of a narrow 1-0 Uganda cup victory over third tier team Kyambura Rastas on Sunday where they sailed  to the last 16 stage of the competition.

They also defeated Bright Stars 2-1 in their last league appearance two weeks ago to remain four points clear at the top of the table, with the eleven wins and four draws from 17 games resulting into 37 points.

Abbey Kikomeko’s men thrashed the wardens 3-0 in the reverse fixture played in October last year and all their focus is set on completing the double over the hosts to maintain a health point gap at the summit.

Maroons currently occupy the sixth place on the log with 29 points after 17 matches.

Last time out, they secured a point in a 0-0 draw against Wakiso Giants in Luzira.

Friday’s encounter will be the 12th meeting between the sides.

Team News

Reagan Kalyowa and Douglas Muganga will miss the trip with injuries. Nicholas Mwere will also not be available for selection as he is serving his suspension after accumulating cards, but the trio are the only absentees for Friday’s match.

Ahead of the classic encounter and against one of the best teams when at home, coach Abbey Kikomeko said BUL is eager to outsmart Maroons in Luzira and come back with all the three points.

“Maroons are a very good team and everyone at the club – including players and coaches all know that. They are stronger at home than they are away, and they have got the tools that can hurt us. So we know that they are a side that can prove dangerous as they have demonstrated it throughout the season,” he said.

“Therefore, this is going to be a tough game for us given that it has even come at a time when we are just from a hectic Uganda cup journey where we played Kyambura Rastas far away in Rubirizi.”

“But I am not saying that the Maroons game should not have come at this time because we all knew that it would be played on this Friday long time ago.”

“So, there is no room for whining, and there is no time for sympathizing with ourselves. We just have to go to Luzira, compete and show them that we are BUL FC the table leaders, and also show them the best version of ourselves and come back with all the three points.”

“We need to become champions and it’s moments like these that make a true champion.”

“I always tell my players that we must have a must win attitude in every game we play and they have always done exactly what I have wanted them to do which gives me confidence that we shall get maximum points tomorrow.”

“I believe we have had enough rest since we came back and also think we have had good preparations coming into this game. We shall approach it like we always do so, expect us to win.”

Defender Ronald Otti said;

“We are prepared for this game as players although Maroons is sometimes a tricky team especially when at home. We drew 0-0 the last time we visited them but we won 3-0 in the first meeting this season, so they are going to come with intentions to revenge but we are also ready to sweep aside every team that comes our way.”

“Fortunately, we won our last two games in Uganda cup. Although the tie that is coming next is a league match and may require different preparations, as players we know what we need to do. We shall not show any sign of complacence or fear. So, that will motivate us to keep winning going forward.”

Head to Head

P11 W8 D1 L2

Both teams have clashed eleven (11) times in the previous seasons, resulting into eight BUL wins, two victories for Maroons and a draw.

Last four encounters

October 30, 2018

Maroons 1-2 BUL FC

December 21, 2022

BUL FC 5-0 Maroons

May 27, 2023

Maroons 0-0 BUL FC

October 20, 2023

BUL FC 3-0 Maroons

Match facts

  • From a possible 27, BUL have collected 17 points as a result of five wins, two draws and losses in equal shares, from nine away games. Scored 13 goals and conceded nine in the process – the best away record in the division.
  • The Eastern Giants have won three of their last five games in all competitions, with the immediate last two victories coming against third division sides Simba FC and Kyambura Rastas in the Uganda cup.
  • But they have won only one of their previous four away league games, drawn two and lost one. The win came against Vipers SC in December.
  • In the past five away matches to Maroons, BUL won two games, drew two and lost one. The victories were however far in between; the first, which was a 4-1 triumph, came in late September 2015 before the second victory (2-1) arrived at the end of October in 2018.
  • Of the 26 goals in the previous eleven games between the two teams, BUL have twenty one (21) to their account.
  • The previous 11 clashes produced a winner except on one occasion, the 0-0 stalemate in April last season at the Prisons grounds.
  • From a possible 24 points, Maroons have picked 13 as a result of three wins, four draws and a loss from their opening eight home games, scored 13 goals and conceded six across the games.
  • Their three wins however came against struggling sides – Mbarara City, Gaddafi and UPDF FC who are tussling for their lives at the bottom end of the table.
  • They have also won only one game in their last five outings in all competitions.
  • On the other hand, Maroons is unbeaten in five home games since losing to NEC FC in November 2023. They have won three and drawn two fixtures in the process.
  • The loss to NEC also remains the only defeat for them in their last 18 home matches dating back to late November 2022.
  • It’s however only two wins for them against BUL, with the last one coming three years ago. The first was a 1-0 victory in December of 2017 courtesy of William Kiibi’s second half strike, before winning again three years later in January of 2020 when they defeated the Eastern Giants 2-0. Fred Amaku and Stephen Mukwala were the scorers.

 Match Coverage

The game action will be live on television. Alternatively, follow our social media channels for the text commentary from the off.

Twitter: @bulfc1

Facebook: Bul Football Club – Jinja

Instagram: bulfc

YouTube: BUL FC TV