MATCH PREVIEW: URA VS BUL FC

Friday 8th March 2024

Uganda Premier League

URA FC Vs BUL FC

Mehta Stadium

Kick-off: 4pm.

BUL FC are back on the road on Friday with a trip to Mehta grounds to face URA in the Uganda premier league with Abbey Kikomeko’s men looking to reclaim their top spot.

The match against SC Villa was postponed last month and this allowed Kitara to grab the summit with a narrow victory over Wakiso Giants but the Eastern Giants remain in an excellent position in the league table with 38 points, just one behind the Royals.

However, they now have to beat a URA side that is still unbeaten at home to stand a chance of an immediate return to the top.

In fact, the Tax Collectors have enjoyed an upturn in fortunes of late, which has culminated into eye-catching showings since David Obua took over the reigns at the club.

As a result, a 7th place on the log has been attained after posting eight wins, six draws and five defeats which have yielded 30 points after 19 matches.

BUL won the reverse fixture 1-0 at FUFA technical centre in October last year and go into the game on the back of a 4-1 shootout success against Express in Uganda Cup.

Progression to the quarter finals of the Uganda Cup has definitely lifted everybody ahead of the crucial tie, while the Tax Collectors suffered a 1-0 defeat at KCCA the last time out, as they exited the competition.

Friday’s clash will be the 26th league meeting between the teams since 2011.

Team News

 Head coach Abbey Kikomeko has confirmed that he has almost a fully fit squad to choose from for the game with only Douglas Muganga and Alex Kitata on the sidelines due to injury and malaria.

Reagan Kalyowa who has missed a couple of games has returned to full fitness.

Coach’s opinion about the game

“We defeated them 1-0 in the first round and it wasn’t an easy game at FUFA technical centre. Now we head to Lugazi and I expect a tough encounter from them,” Abbey Kikomeko said.

“They play some good football but we almost have the same style of play and I think the luckiest team will take the day.”

“Although we are playing at their backyard, we shall put in all the efforts we can to win all the three points.”

“We have drawn our last two games on the road, against KCCA and Maroons. This doesn’t mean that we shall draw even this one, we don’t want to share points, we need to win and return to the top because Kitara is apparently leading us by just a point.”

“We have prepared the boys very well and even made it clear that we don’t want anything short of three points from this game.”

Pascal Ngobi said;

“We know what is needed to return to the top. We didn’t get the maximum points we wanted against Maroons but it is always good to recharge yourself and come back in a fresh mood.”

“The boys have really recharged, the spirit is high and everyone is yearning for maximum points because it not good to win the first half of the season and then give up on the second round. So, the boys are going to push it harder and get all the three points.”

Head to Head

P25 W4 D10 L11

Twenty five (25) matches have been played between the sides in the league since November 2011, with the duels ending in four BUL FC wins, 11 URA victories and ten draws

Last four meetings

April 04, 2022

BUL FC 2-0 URA FC

October 14, 2022

URA 1-1 BUL FC

March 04, 2023

BUL FC 0-1 URA FC

October 31, 2023

BUL FC 1-0 URA FC

Match Facts

  • BUL FC have won five away games, drawn three and lost two to register 18 points from a possible 30, the best away record in the division this season.
  • They have also scored 13 goals and conceded nine in the process.
  • The Eastern Giants are also unbeaten in their past four league games; they drew against Mbarara City, KCCA and Maroons, and won 2-1 against Bright Stars.
  • But they have not won in their previous three away league matches, lost 2-1 to Gaddafi FC and then drew 0-0 at KCCA and Maroons.
  • From the past five meetings between the sides, the Eastern Giants have lost only one to URA, the 1-0 home loss in March last year.
  • BUL’s four wins off URA arrived with clean sheets, the identical 1-0 scores in April of 2016, February 2018 and October 2023, and the 2-0 victory in April 2022.
  • Of the ten stalemates in this fixture, six were one all draws, two were goalless; while the other two were two all stalemates.
  • BUL FC has not won in any of their 11 UPL visits to URA since 2012, with David Obua’s men winning five and drawing six of the ties but the Eastern Giants are unbeaten in their last two trips where they drew 2-2 and 1-1 in mid-November 2021 and mid October 2022 respectively.
  • But URA is the most in-form home team in the Uganda premier league this term after picking 23 points from a possible 27. This has been as a result of seven (7) wins and two draws at the Mehta stadium where the Tax Collectors have scored 17 goals and conceded just 4.
  • The two draws came against Kitara (2-2) in November last year and SC Villa (0-0) in January 2024.
  • The tax collectors are unbeaten in 11 league games at home, stretching back to May last year.
  • They have kept four clean sheets in their past four league games at Mehta stadium – against Mbarara City, SC Villa, UPDF and Maroons, scoring six goals across the matches.
  • URA have lost only two games in their past six outings in all competitions, and that was against Wakiso Giants (1-0) and KCCA FC (1-0) in the Uganda Cup.

Match Coverage:

The showdown will be live on Sanyuka prime. Meanwhile you can also follow the action through our social media channels below with full text coverage during the game followed by a match report and highlights.

Twitter: @bulfc1

Facebook: Bul Football Club – Jinja

Instagram: Bulfc1

You Tube: BUL FC TV