Goals from John Rogers Okumu made it a frustrating evening for the Eastern Giants as Onduparaka came out 2-0 winners at the Green Light Stadium in Arua.
It was a better start for BUL in terms of possession but they rarely found away passed Mathias Okello in Onduparaka’s goal on Tuesday.
Ibrahim Mugulusi’s well taken corner was cleared in the early moments of the game before Okello punched out another by Ibrahim Kazindula midway the first half.
The hosts improved marginally going forward and almost took the lead on 19 minutes when Nathan Oloro swung in a cross but Williams Gama was seconds late to connect.
They however did break the deadlock soon through John Rogers Okumu seven minutes to the break.
And despite coach Simeon Masaba calling changes to his side after the break, Onduparaka stretched their lead as Okumu completed his brace on 53 minutes and this proved to be the final stroke despite all the efforts from BUL to overturn the fortunes.
The Eastern Giants have remained third on the table despite the result with 30 points, ten behind leaders SC Villa after 20 matches.
The next outing will be against Express on Saturday at FUFA technical centre in Njeru.
Starting XI:
Tom Ikara(GK), Richard Ayiko, Douglas Muganga (Paul Ssekulima), Walter Ochora, Pascal Ngobi, Ibrahim Kazindula (Emmanuel Kalyowa), Ibrahim Mugulusi (Samuel Ssekamatte 46′), Hillary Onek, Martin Aprem (Anthony Mayanja), Richard Wandyaka, Ibrahim Nsimbe.
Unused substitutes:
Emmanuel Kalyowa (GK), Aggrey Madoi, George Kasonko
BUL FC have settled for a point following a disappointing barren stalemate at FUFA technical center in the Jinja derby against Gaddafi on Wednesday.
It’s now three draws and two losses for the Eastern Giants in five matches of the second round.
They enjoyed the greater share of possession and chances after the interval albeit without making the most important breakthrough.
Both sides went into the break all square after neither side could find the opening goal in the quiet first 45 minutes.
The Eastern Giants controlled possession in the half but could not create an opportunity of note, as the Soldier boys did a good job defending their penalty area.
Joel Madondo came close for the visitors inside six minutes, but his weak effort was stopped by Saidi Keni.
It took BUL until the 9th minute to have their first effort in the game.
Following a clean exchange between Martin Aprem, Richard Wandyaka and Ibrahim Nsimbe in Gaddafi’s area, Ibrahim Mugulusi was chanced to have a go at goal but sent his low drive wide.
Simeon Massa’s side was then compelled to make a change midway the stanza when goalkeeper Saidi Keni was forced off with an injury, with Tom Ikara assuming the duties between the posts.
BUL FC start list against Gaddafi
The contest was certainly in need of a spark – and with both sides making a couple of changes upon the resumption, the game breathed some life although it was not enough to hit the expectations of the derby.
In the closing stages of the game, Aprem had two chances to break the deadlock. His first came six minutes to the hour mark but he hesitated to volley the ball in a blink, while his flipped effort a few moments later missed the target by inches.
Samuel Ssekamatte was the next to have a sight of goal for the Eastern Giants as they came close again, but his header off Hillary Onek’s lofted ball into the box just cut across the face of the goal.
BUL remained on the front foot, pressing Gaddafi in their own half with intent and in the additional minutes after the 90, Onek thought he hard won it all for his side but his goal was cancelled for a foul on the opponent’s goalkeeper.
The result has left BUL in the third place with 30 points after 19 matches.
Next is a trip to Arua for an engagement with Onduparaka at the Green Light stadium come fourth of April.
Starting XI:
Saidi Keni (Tom Ikara – GK 35′), Aggrey Madoi, Walter Ochora, Ibrahim Kazindula (Paul Ssekamatte), Ibrahim Mugulusi (Emmanuel Kalyowa), Douglas Muganga, Richard Wandyaka (Anthony Mayanja), Pascal Ngobi, Hillary Onek, Martin Aprem, Ibrahim Nsimbe (Paul Ssekulima).
Tuesday March 21, 2023 Uganda Premier League SC Villa Vs BUL Akibua memorial stadium Kick-off: 2PM
The Eastern Giants head to the Akibua stadium this Tuesday to take on SC Villa in a mouthwatering Uganda premier league clash.
BUL will be targeting a return to winning ways following a disappointing run of three matches without victory in the league ever since the second half of the season started.
It’s a top three clash as the Jogoos and the Eastern Giants meet, with two points separating the two sides.
BUL FC starting line up against Villa in the stanbic Uganda cup last weekend
A record of eight wins, five draws and four defeats from 17 matches has seen BUL collect 29 points, which is enough for the third position in the table, two points behind their hosts in second place.
The Eastern Giants won 1-0 in the reverse game earlier this term, and went on to beat them again with the same score in the round of 32 of the Uganda cup.
Richard Wandyaka and Ibrahim Nsimbe were on the score sheet for BUL at FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.
But SC Villa are actually unbeaten in the league since early December, winning five of their last seven during a brilliant run of form.
Jackson Magera’s side are showing strong form at an important stage of the season, however, they will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 defeat at the hands of their visitors in Uganda Cup.
Team News:
BUL will be unable to call upon the services of; Ronald Otti, Reagan Kalyowa and George Kasonko with the trio sidelined because of injuries. Striker Ibrahim Nsimbe will also miss the trip to Lira because of a suspension.
Coach Simeon Masaba is thinking the success in the immediate last game can bring the momentum heading into this game and that the team can arrest the current poor run in the league.
“The camp is okay. The morale is high and the previous win against Onduparaka motivates us, coming into this game with energy,” he said.
“We are going to do what we are supposed to do because we need to win.”
“We started the second round badly and we need to improve as soon as possible. Therefore, we are going to ‘fight’ with SC Villa to see that we win tomorrow’s game.”
Emmanuel Kalyowa has said the players have been prepared to do their job well.
“We are ready to face SC Villa,” the midfielder said.
“We have had very good preparations and the coaches have given us enough tactics.“
“We know the task may not be easy but it’s our job, we have to confront it with zeal to see that we get the three points.“
Head to Head
From the 27 matches across all competitions, this fixture has produced nine wins for BUL, nine for SC Villa and nine draws.
Last four meetings
April 24, 2022 (Uganda cup)
SC Villa 1-2 BUL FC (AET)
May 22, 2022
BUL 1-0 SC Villa
October 22, 2022
BUL FC 1-0 SC Villa
March 11, 2023 (UG Cup Replay)
BUL FC 1-0 SC Villa.
Match facts
BUL have won two games, lost and drawn three matches apiece to have a count of nine points from a possible 24 in eight away league matches.
On the road this season, they have scored ten goals and conceded eight.
The Eastern Giants have also won once in their past six league matches, drawing three times.
But Simeon Masaba’s men have won nine times in this fixture with four victories coming away from home.
To add on that, the Eastern Giants are unbeaten in their last twelve meetings with the Jogoos.
45 goals have been scored in this fixture since 2011 and the Eastern Giants have a share of 22.
It’s close to five years since SC Villa last beat BUL in the league, and that was the 1-0 victory in November 2017.
After losing their first two matches at Akibua memorial stadium, SC Villa have won three on the bounce since shifting to Lira in November last year.
They have also kept three clean sheets along their seven match unbeaten run in the league, scoring in each of them.
The Jogoos have dropped only six points at home this campaign, tallying 18 points from a possible 24 in eight matches – the fifth best home record in the division.
Match Coverage
The game will be live on television but 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 match highlights.
BUL FC coast into the quarter finals of the Stanbic Uganda Cup at the expense of Onduparaka, putting the Caterpillars to the sword in a ruthless second half that saw the hosts outclassed at Green Light stadium on Wednesday.
Martin Aprem’s cool finish on the 80th minute mark separated the two sides to earn BUL a 1-0 win and through to the last eight.
BUL FC players celebrating Martn’ s goal
It was a tight contest in the first half, with few chances that were far between as both teams finished the game with ten men.
BUL’s Emmanuel Kalyowa was sent off midway the first half for foul play but the 45 minutes gave way to an event full second period dominated by the Eastern Giants who were denied a goal fifteen minutes to time for offside by Ibrahim Nsimbe.
The Eastern Giants however remained tall and a few moments later, Martin Aprem scored the all important goal to break the deadlock.
Onduparaka’s Rashid Okocha was also sent off late in the game for unsporting behavior as BUL cruised to victory.
Next up, is a Uganda premier league away clash with SC Villa for the Eastern Giants on Tuesday in Lira.
BUL FC starting line up against Onduparaka
Starting XI:
Saidi Keni (GK), Walter Ochora, Douglas Muganga, Richard Ayiko, Jerome Kirya, Ibrahim Kazindula, Hillary Onek, Emmanuel Kalyowa, Ivan Wani, Richard Wandyaka, Ibrahim Nsimbe.
Substitutes:
Tom Ikara (GK), Aggrey Madoi, Anthony Mayanja, Vicent Zziwa, Ibrahim Mugulusi, Martin Aprem, Samuel Ssekamatte.
BUL FC will be bidding to book a spot in the quarter finals of the Stanbic Uganda Cup when we visit Onduparaka on Wednesday at the Green Light stadium in Arua.
Former roving full back and ex international – Simeon Masaba is currently in charge of the Eastern Giants on an interim basis, replacing coach Alex Isabirye who was allowed to try his luck at Vipers SC last Saturday when we qualified to this level.
Ibrahim Kazindula in action
There is no getting away from the fact that BUL have endured a wretched start to the second round of the Uganda premier league – not winning any of our three games of the second half of the season but we have flexed our muscles in this competition thus far against all odds.
Hillary Onek ensured the Eastern Giants began the cup defense well when he scored the lone goal at the round of 64 against Sparks SC in Mukono, before we were ordered to play SC Villa twice at the next stage.
In the replay, Ibrahim Nsimbe’s beautiful finish showed the world the force we are as BUL bundled SC Villa in the hand bag again to record another sweeter 1-0 win in the most fashionable way to majestically progress to the round of 16 after the initial victory was annulled by the FUFA Competitions Disciplinary Panel (CDP).
Onduparaka are however at the bottom of the Uganda premier league table and they are at the edge of facing relegation having picked up ten points from their 17 games.
BUL FC players celebrating Ibra Nsimbe’s goal against Villa
But they have been in impressive form in the Cup this season.
They kicked off their cup campaign with a 1-0 win over Packwach Young before picking up a comfortable 2-0 away win over Junior Eagles, with Dominic Abonga and Denis Ojara getting on the score sheet for the Caterpillars in Soroti.
BUL beat Onduparaka 1-0 at FUFA technical centre in the league last year, and this will be fourteenth meeting between the sides in all competitions.
Team News:
Midfielders – George Kasonko and Pascal Ngobi missed the tie against SC Villa and this game has also come too soon for them because of injuries. Meanwhile, Simeon Masaba is left with a big pool of players who are fully fit and committed to deliver when called upon.
Coach’s quotes
“The boys are prepared enough to see that we go through this Stanbic Uganda cup match,” coach Simeon Masaba said.
“It’s a tricky game but we are going to see that we work hard to see that we seal it to the quarter finals.”
“We have to work as a team to motivate players and see that their attitude is good as well because their work rate on the pitch will give us the energy and the win tomorrow.”
Player’s quotes
“We are prepared to win this game,” captain Saidi Keni said.
“Everyone is in the right shape and all the players have been psyched to win tomorrow’s game.”
Midfielder Ibrahim Mugulusi in action.
Head to head
BUL and Onduparaka have met on thirteen occasions in the past. BUL have won six contests, with the Caterpillars winning two and the sides drawing five times.
Match Coverage:
All our social media channels will be very active for everyone to follow as we relay full text coverage during the game, followed by a match report and match highlights.
BUL’s unbeaten run at home in the league has been stopped by URA in a Uganda premier game at FUFA technical center in Njeru.
The Eastern Giants have been nearly invisible – winning eleven games out of fifteen (15) league matches at home before today, with the run stretching back to February 2022 when we lost to Vipers SC at Kyabazinga stadium.
But Ibrahim Dada scored the only goal in the game for the tax collectors as BUL lost on Saturday infront of our own fans to break the record.
Striker Ibrahim Nsimbe sending a life threatening thunderbolt from range
It was arguably a game of two halves and with high intensity which saw the first half ending with the teams going in the break on level terms.
Despite enjoying plenty of possession in the early moments, URA failed to find a way past BUL goalkeeper Saidi Keni.
Their first chance arrived when Derrick Ndahiro appeared to have been tripped by Hillary Onek near the box with the referee awarding them a free kick which Joshua Lubwama managed to float into the area but Alfred Leku was flagged offside before he could pose any threat.
Midway the half, another chance fell to Leku when he beat Douglas Muganga to the ball after a fierce battle on the right side but an extra heavy touch by him was comfortably claimed by Keni before the lanky forward failed to anticipate James Begisa’s low cross moments later.
It took the Eastern Giants until the 18th minute to threaten URA’s goal area as Nafian Alionzi was forced to come off his line to parry away Onek’s cross, while Ibrahim Nsimbe’s yellow card on the stroke of half time was the only other highlight for Isabirye’s side.
BUL however emerged from the break fully charged, dominating proceedings while creating chances but it looked like they had forgotten their scoring boots in the dressing room.
Emmanuel Kalyowa running the show in the midfield as URA’s Saidi Kyeyune looks on in awe
After coach Alex Isabirye called the changes, introducing Emmanuel Kalyowa, Richard Okello, Ibrahim Mugulusi, Innocent Rwothomio and Paul Ssekulima, BUL contained the visitors in their own half for large spells of the second half only that hard luck befell them in the final minutes.
Okello and Kalyowa gave the team rythm while on the front foot as Onek and Obua pulled the strings from the wide areas.
It was not too long until Ibrahim Nsimbe thought he had finally put BUL infront on 51 minutes with a low drive from inside the box off Obua’s delivery but his effort was cancelled for offside.
The striker then hit the side net twice midway the second half while BUL’s penalty claims when the forward was floored inside the area disinterested the referee.
Youthful wing back Hillary Onek takes Saidi Kyeyune on a tour around the turf
Ibrahim Kazindula rattled the bar from range as the Eastern Giants continued to look for a break through which was never to come.
URA meanwhile looked dangerous on the counter with the first warning coming when Keni was forced to spill infront of Saidi Kyeyune but the goalkeeper sprung up swiftly to reclaim the ball from the midfielder’s boots.
The tax collectors eventually bleached BUL’s defense five minutes from time through Ibrahim Dada who scored in an empty net as Keni was beaten following a fast break from Sam Timbe’s men.
This was the first defeat at home for Isabirye’s team in a period of twelve months since February last year.
Focus now turn to the Uganda cup replay with SC Villa the coming weekend at FUFA technical center.
BUL’s starting XI against URA
Starting XI:
Saidi Keni (GK), Douglas Muganga, Walter Ochora, Richard Ayiko, Ibrahim Kazindula, Jerome Kirya, Hillary Onek, Richard Wandyaka, Emmanuel Obua, Ibrahim Nsimbe, Samuel Ssekamatte.
Tom Ikara (GK), Paul Ssekulima, Ibrahim Mugulusi, Emmanuel Kalyowa, Innocent Rwothomio, Richard Okello, Shafik Kwikiriza.
The Eastern Giants host ninth placed URA at FUFA technical center in a Uganda premier league action on Saturday evening.
BUL were denied victory in the reverse fixture when George Ssenkaaba’s last gasp strike for URA cancelled out Jerome Kirya’s first half goal as the sides drew 1-1 at Nakisunga Ssaza grounds in mid-October last year.
Alex Isabirye’s men are however second on the table with 29 points from 16 matches, and they will seek to maintain their nearly faultless run at home when the tax collectors arrive in Njeru.
The two one all draws against KCCA and Blacks Power remain the only dark spots todate in BUL’s awesome showings which have produced six wins in eight home matches this season.
Their encouraging form concedes with the fact that Richard Wandyaka was on target twice against his former side when BUL defeated URA 2-0 at Kyabazinga stadium the previous time the Eastern Giants played host to Sam Timbe’s men almost a year ago.
But the tax collectors have realized a leap in form since the second round started.
Having misfired in seven consecutive matches as the opening half of the season wore on, URA have flexed their muscle to win all their opening two matches of the second round, beating Onduparaka and Express 2-0 and 1-0 respectively.
The results have seen them climb to ninth on the table with 20 points after 16 games.
Team News
The trio of goalkeeper Emmanuel Kalyowa, midfielders – Reagan Kalyowa and Pascal Ngobi missed the trip to UPDF and will continue to sit out this one because of injuries, the coach confirmed.
File photo: Manager Alex Isabirye speaking to the press
BUL were denied a win the last time the teams faced each other by a last minute goal for the tax collectors but Alex Isabirye said this time his men will use the home advantage to deliver the goods.
“It was a one all draw when we played them in the first round and since this time we are at home, we shall try to get the win although we are missing some players.”
“But we have replaced them with other players who can equally do the job.”
“Football is not easy but I see my team improving and getting better every day.”
“All the players know we need the three points and I expect we shall win.”
Midfielder Ibrahim Kazindula said;
“We drew 1-1 with them in the first round at Nakisunga and we are ready for the game tomorrow.”
“We need the maximum points and we expect to win.”
Kazindula is joined by Hillary Onek to celebrate a goal in a recent encounter
Head to Head
This will be the 23rd meeting between the sides in the league since November 2011, with the previous duels ending in three BUL FC wins, 10 URA victories and ten draws
Last four meetings
April 16, 2021
URA FC 3-1 BUL FC
November 20, 2021
URA 2-2 BUL FC
April 04, 2022
BUL FC 2-0 URA FC
October 14, 2022
URA 1-1 BUL FC
Match facts
BUL have won six and drawn twice to pick up 20 points from eight home league matches, the third best home record in the division – only behind KCCA and Vipers.
The fantastic run has stretched our unbeaten home record to 15 league matches, producing eleven wins since early February last year.
The Eastern Giants are also unbeaten in their past three league matches although they have won one game in their last five league outings.
BUL’s three wins off URA arrived with clean sheets, the similar scores of 1-0 in April of 2016 and February 2018, 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 draws.
URA have won only two games, having drawn and lost three matches apiece in eight away matches.
But after not picking a win in their final seven matches of the first round, the tax collectors have returned in the second half of the season with full force, winning two games on the bounce without leaking a goal.
Match Officials
Kavuma Vicent will take charge of the match from the center. Mafumu Mustapha and Zziwa Charles to run the lines as the first and second assistant referees in that order. Outeke Daniel will serve as the fourth official, while Ndawula Muhammed will be the referees assessor.
Match Coverage:
The best way to enjoy every bit of this game is to come to FUFA technical center. 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.
Tuesday February 21, 2023 Uganda premier league Bombo military grounds Kick off: 4pm
BUL FC hit the road to face UPDF on Tuesday at Bombo military grounds in the Uganda premier league.
The Eastern Giants are looking to put things right away from home where we have picked just two wins.
In seven league trips, the 5-0 win over Blacks Power in October and the 1-0 triumph against Arua Hill in December last year remain the only victories to date for Alex Isabirye’s side on the road.
BUL FC’s Ayiko Richard in action.
But our good home run has seen us count 28 points from eight wins and four draws to sit second on the log.
Contrastingly, the hosts have not been exciting altogether. Eleven (11) points, as a result of their two wins and five draws, is all they can present from fifteen rounds this campaign.
This has left them in 13th place and praying for good fortunes going forward as they are just two points from the danger zone.
Their Uganda cup journey was also thrown to the ruins by Bunyaruguru United after a 2-1 defeat last Thursday in Rubirizi.
BUL however put in a battling display at home to SC Villa in the cup to record a 1-0 win to progress to the round of 16 and will look to build on that against UPDF.
They will also be encouraged by the good recent record at UPDF, with the Eastern Giants unbeaten in their latest four meetings with the army side.
This clash comes at a moment when the competition between the second and fifth is tight, therefore, winning this match is high on the agenda for BUL to remain in firm control of the second place regardless of the results from the battle between Vipers and Wakiso Giants at St. Mary’s stadium and SC Villa and Onduparaka who play a day later.
Alex Isabirye’s men recorded a 3-1 win at FUFA technical center the last time the side met. Two second half quick fire goals from Karim Ndugwa and Richard Wandyaka set us on the move before Frank Kalanda sealed the win late on while Ibrahim Magandazi scored the consolation for them.
Team News
Douglas Muganga will serve his suspension after accumulating yellow cards.
Three players – George Kasonko, Reagan Kalyowa and Pascal Ngobi sustained injuries in our 1-0 win over SC Villa and manager Alex Isabirye confirmed they join goalkeeper Emmanuel Kalyowa in the treatment room.
Isabirye spoke to club media after the last training and said;
“They are third from the bottom of the table, they need the points and I know they are going to put up a very big fight but we are also looking forward to getting those three points.“
“It will not be easy but we are ready for them and I think we shall win.“
Goalkeeper Saidi Keni said;
“As players, we are prepared for the game against UPDF.”
“They are strong team but basing on our performance in the previous games, we are good to go and every player is ready to give 100%.“
Goal keeper Saidi Keni
Head to Head
P11 W6 D1 L4
Eleven matches have been played between these teams, producing six wins for BUL, four for UPDF and one draw since 2015.
Previous four encounters
April 20, 2021
BUL FC 4-3 UPDF FC
December 23, 2021
UPDF FC 1-1 BUL FC
March 01, 2022
BUL 5-1 UPDF FC
October 8, 2023
BUL FC 3-1 UPDF FC
Match Facts
BUL have won only two of their past seven away matches this campaign, scoring nine goals in return and conceding seven with eight points gathered.
But they are unbeaten in their last four meetings with UPDF, winning three and drawing one, with 13 goals scored and only six conceded in the process.
Injured Kasonko George
This fixture has produced a winner in ten of their past eleven (11) meetings, and 36 goals have been scored across those games, with BUL FC having a lion’s share of 22.
UPDF have won three times in five home league games against BUL since 2015.
However, they have won one, drawn four and lost seven in their previous 12 league matches in the current season.
Match Coverage:
Our social media channels will relay minute to minute text commentary for the fans who will not be able to travel to Bombo. A match report and highlights will follow shortly.
BUL FC will be looking to book their spot in the round of 16 of the Stanbic Uganda Cup when they welcome SC Villa to the FUFA Technical Center on Friday evening.
The Eastern Giants were 1-0 winners over Sparks SC to advance to this stage of the competition, while SC Villa beat Kireka United 6-0 at the Kings Park in the round of 64 to progress.
Ibra Nsimbe battling out against Musana
Both sides met at the quarter final stage where BUL came from a goal down to win 2-1 after extra time in a throbbing clash last season.
Ultimately, they went on to defeat Vipers 3-1 in the final to win the trophy while SC Villa last lifted this cup in 2015 by beating KCCA in a replayed final, and there is no question that Jackson Magera and his men will be taking this competition seriously too.
Coming into this match, BUL and SC Villa drew one all in their previous league engagements against Blacks Power and Gaddafi.
The results left them second and fifth on the league table respectively.
They face off again having last met in October last year in a league duel where BUL had to dig deep to craft the 1-0 victory through Richard Wandyaka’s late strike – which was BUL’s eighth win over the Jogoos in 26 encounters.
Alex Isabirye’s men, who will be playing at a ground they have not lost since the season started, now have to approach this mighty task with grit given that their opponents also have a five game unbeaten run to protect.
Team News
Team manager Alex Isabirye said there is no suspension with in the squad but he confirmed goalkeeper Emmanuel Kalyowa and midfielder Jerome Kirya will miss the game.
Ahead of the game, Isabirye said;
Team manager Alex Isabirye
“We are going to try to do our level best to win the game although it will not be easy.”
BUL played the Jogoos enroute to the final the past season but the manager said this time we are meeting a new looking and a much improved SC Villa side.
“Teams in Uganda Cup especially SC Villa don’t open up and I saw they were so good against Gaddafi in the league on their last outing.”
“When playing in a knock out competition, you play different games and in Stanbic Uganda Cup, you can’t play the same opponents every season.”
“In the current SC Villa, we are meeting a different team from the one we faced last season.”
“I think they were 11th in the league last time and they are currently fifth, they even had a foreign coach. but now they have about six new faces in their team and with two good and experienced new coaches, and they have so far performed extremely well.”
“So, the game will not be the same as last season’s.“
Captain George Kasonko also said;
Captain George Kasonko
“It’s the final match we are having, there will be no any other game if we lose this one. It’s a game we must play to win.“
“This is the opportunity we have to write history again and we are ready for tomorrow.”
Match Coverage:
The game will be live on television but 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.
Friday February 10, 2023 Uganda Premier League FUFA Technical Center Kickoff: 4pm
The Eastern Giants begin the second round of the Startimes Uganda premier league action on Friday with a clash against Blacks Power at the Fufa Technical Center in Njeru. BUL opened our 2022/23 league campaign at the Aki Bua stadium in October last year against the same opponents, and a rampant Alex Isabirye side swept Blacks Power aside with a clinical 5-0 win thanks to goals from Karim Ndugwa, Richard Wandyaka and Jerome Kirya.
BUL FC starting line up that played against Blacks power in first round
The victory set tone for the Eastern Giants’ fantastic run in the opening half of the season as we went on to win seven more games and registered three draws to sit second on the table with 27 points despite losing three matches in the process. But we are set to meet a new looking side as per the fact that Blacks Power have since changed the man in charge and also called changes in the playing staff. Former BUL coach Peter Onen was replaced by Hussein Mbalangu shortly after that hard fall in October, and their new man was backed in the midseason transfer window with ten new signings with former Eastern Giant Abdul Malik Vitalis Tabu also joining them.
Out of the eleven matches in charge, Mbalangu’s side has been victorious just twice and lost five times with four stalemates, meaning they still face hardships in collecting points and have since failed to steer far away from the red zone because their eleven (11) points can only lift them to 12th place on the 15-team log. Their record against the Eastern Giants is awful too.
BUL FC players celebrating after scoring against Blacks power
Striker Karim Ndugwa quit BUL in January. Nevertheless, viable replacements flew in and they will be encouraged by our 100% flashy record against the visitors. The sides come into this match on the back of 1-0 wins which allowed them to progress to the round of 32 in the Uganda cup at the expense of their opponents. Friday’s clash is going to be the fourth meeting between the two teams across all competitions.
Team News
Goalkeeper Emmanuel Kalyowa will sit out this one because of an injury, and remains the only absentee for tomorrow’s game.
Blacks Power under Mbalangu has been a hard nut to cruck however Alex Isabirye said he expects some bit of a challenge but he has prepared his men well and he is also leaning on the home advantage to get the job done. “Despite beating them 5-0 in our first meeting in October, this time we are playing against a team that has a new coach and many new players, therefore, the game will not be the same,” he said on Thursday. “But we are at home and we need to get those three points.” “There are some points we lost in the first round but we need to see that we don’t repeat the same. The weaknesses we had in the first round have been worked on and I think we are now ready to deliver, and I think the players know what is required to stay in the second position on the table.”
Ronald Otti Said;
“Tomorrow’s game is quite a difficult one and it is going to be a hard task since we beat them in the first game. They will come with revenge on their minds.” “We haven’t lost at home this season, with the 1-1 draw against KCCA the only time we have dropped points in our yard. So, maintaining our winning home record is another task we have tomorrow.” “But we have had enough time since we broke off in December and everyone is now ready for the second round.”
Head-to-Head
P3 W3 D0 L0 In the three games the two team have played before, BUL won all of them.
Last three encounters
May 2021 Blacks Power 0-2 BUL FC (Uganda Cup) BUL FC 3-1 Blacks Power (Uganda Cup) October 1, 2022 Blacks Power 0-5 BUL FC
Match facts
BUL have the second-best home record in the league after winning six and drawing one to gather 19 points from a possible 21 in seven home matches. The Eastern Giants have also scored fifteen goals at home and conceded only three, keeping four clean sheets in the process. The run has stretched our unbeaten home record to 14 league matches, producing eleven wins since early February last year. Of the 11 goals in the last three games between the two teams, BUL have ten (10) to their account. Blacks Power have lost all their last three games against BUL, scoring one goal – 2-0 (2021), 3-1 (2021), and 5-0 (2022). They are one of the worst travelers this campaign, having collected only five points from a possible 21 in seven away engagements. They have not won in their last five league games, with their last victory coming against UPDF in November.
Match officials Kasalirwe Lucky has been trusted to oversee this clash from the center. He will be assisted by Okello Lee and Osire Juma as the first and second assistant referees respectively. Naigaga Habiba will be the fourth official while Kubingi Margaret will serve as the referee’s assessor. Serwanga Lwanga Isaa will be the match coordinator.
Match Coverage:
There will be a live coverage of the match on television as well as text commentary of the action via our social media channels. Twitter: @bulfc1
