Friday, February 10
*BUL FC vs Blacks Power, FUFA Technical Centre Njeru
Team News
- BUL FC will be without Goalkeeper Emmanuel Kalyowa due to injury.
- New signings Sam Ssekamatte, Emmanuel Kalyowa, Joshua Okiror and Paul Ssekulima are set for their debuts
- For Blacks Power, Goalkeeper Tony Kyamera and Defender Ivan Okello are ruled out with injuries.
- New signings Vitalis Tabu, Omeri David, Moses Odongo and Gabriel Matata still have pending licence issues while Robert Eseru is set for his debut after recovering in time from sickness.
Probable Lineups
*BUL – Saidi Keni (GK), Richard Ayiko, Walter Ochora, Ronald Otti, Douglas Muganga, Hillary Onek, George Kasonko, Jerome Kirya, Ibrahim Nsimbe, Ibrahim Mugulusi, Richard Wandyaka.
*Blacks Power – Emmanuel Odongo (GK), Amayo Ahmed, Jimmy Ndalambi, Opio Simon Misaki, Omagor John, Dickens Okwir, Micheal Siwu, Daniel Otim, John Paul Acire, Haron Odongo, Robert Eseru.
*Preview: BUL seek to maintain pressure on leaders KCCA
Second-placed BUL FC will hope to keep pressure on leaders KCCA as they host Blacks Power at the FUFA Technical Centre Njeru in the Uganda Premier League.
After a 1-0 victory away to Wakiso Giants on Thursday, KCCA stretched their lead at the summit to five points and Alex Isabirye side will be tasked to reduce the deficit.
The Uganda Cup defending champions will also eye a league double over their counterparts after a convincing 5-0 triumph in the league opener at Akibua Memorial stadium.
However, Isabirye will be without his talisman Karim Ndugwa who has since joined defending champions Vipers after an impressive first round.
Speaking ahead of the match, Isabirye said they have made amends from the mistakes they made in the first round.
“We have been preparing for almost a month,” Isabirye told the club media.
“I know there are some points that we lost in the first round so we need to see that we don’t lose games again.
“We’ve been training so hard. I know the players are ready and they know what it means to stay in that position because we are second and we trying our level best to see that we maintain that.”
Blacks Power received a brutal welcome to the top flight after BUL thrashed them 5-0 at Akibua Memorial stadium in their maiden league game but Isabirye says their opponents have changed a lot since then.
“We are playing against Blacks Power, we won the first round 5-0 but I know we shall play a team that has made many changes, so many new players and I think the game won’t be easy.
“But we are at home and we need to get those three points and we shall do whatever it takes to win the game.”
A rejuvenated Blacks Power will go all out to cause an upset as they seek to start the second round on high.
The Lira based side has improved since appointing Hussein Mbalangu as the Head Coach who has made them hard to beat, hence boosting their chances of remaining in the league.
Blacks Power will also seek for their first ever win over BUL after losing all the three games they have played.
However, the FUFA Big League champions have lost a number of key players at the concluded transfer window including Bronson Nsubuga.
In the reverse fixture Blacks Power succumbed to a 5-0 debut loss thanks to a brace from Karim Ndugwa and Richard Wandyaka while Jerome Kirya was also on target for the visitors at Akibua Memorial stadium.
Stats
BUL
*The Eastern Giants finished the First Round second on the log with 27 points. They managed eight wins, three draws and defeats apiece after 14 matches.
*With 24 goals, their tally was the joint highest with KCCA after the first round
*Won all home games except a 1-1 draw with KCCA
Blacks Power
*At the end of First Round, Hussein Mbalangu’s side were 12th on the table with 11 points. They registered two wins, five draws and seven loses.
*With 21, Inly UPDF and Busoga United conceded more goals in the first round
*Finished the first round with a five-game winless run
Head to Head
2022/2023
Blacks Power 0-5 BUL
2021/2022
Blacks Power 0-2 BUL FC (Uganda Cup)
BUL FC 3-1 Blacks Power (Uganda Cup)
