UPDF vs Bright Stars: Team News, Probable Lineups, Preview and Stats

March 20, 2023
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Monday, March 20
*UPDF vs Bright Stars, Bombo Barracks Ground

*Team News

UPDF will be without Mugisha Rogers who travelled with the Uganda Cranes to Egypt for AFCON Qualifiers.
Pius Kaggwa still sidelined with an injury.
Goalkeeper Derrick Emmanuel Were is ineligible to face his parent club while Aciga Emmanuel Mike still has license issues.
Goalkeeper Martin Ssenkooto is set for his debut after his license is settled since joining from Arua Hill in January.
Kasozi Samson, Arafat Galiwango and Ibrahim Magandaazi will all miss the match.
Defender Warren Buule is ruled out for two weeks with an injury for Bright Stars.
The rest of Bright Stars squad is fit and ready for selection.

*Probable Lineups

UPDF – Martin Ssenkooto (GK), Kiggundu Moses, Oyirwoth Daglas, Kawagu Christopher, Bernard Muwanga, Adriko Rogers, Okello Donato, Ibrahim Wammanah, Yiga Frank, Ivan Ahimbisibwe, Ezekiel Katende.

Bright Stars – Hassan Matovu (GK), Odongo Jonathan, Omony Denis Kaka, Andrew Kyambadde, Etou Gideon, Fiat Cleophas, Noordin Bunjo, Kasinde Ibrahim, Loki Emmanuel, Samuel Ssenyonjo, Nelson Senkatuka.

Preview: UPDF Fancy Chances against Bright Stars

Hosts UPDF will hope to register their first win this year as they welcome Bright Stars at Bombo Barracks Ground.

The Army side are yet to register a win in the second round after two draws with BUL FC and Express, and a defeat to Busoga United.

Brian Ssenyondo’s charges will target maximum points to ease relegation woes.

They sit 13th on the log, level on 12 points with Blacks Power, just above relegation zone by goal difference.

UPDF will be confident heading into this fixture boasting with two wins in the last two games when hosting Bright Stars and unbeaten in the last three games.

UPDF succumbed to a 1-0 away defeat to Busoga United after a Thomas Ochungu late winner pushed them down the table.

For Bright Stars they will hope to build on their first win this year after overcoming Blacks Power and a goalless draw with Maroons in the two second round league games they have so far played.

They also ejected Buganda Regional League side Kiyinda Boys 4-0 in the Uganda Cup in the mid-week.

The Japanese owned club will eye their first win on the road since 5th December last year following a 1-0 victory over Busoga United.

Unlike UPDF, it’s right to say that Bright Stars are comfortable and far away from the relegation mix in the 6th placed 11 points below leaders KCCA and 12 points above UPDF.

Bright Stars will go all out to pick their first away win against UPDF since 2015 after a 1-0 triumph.

Denis Kaka Omony brace and Sam Ssenyonjo inspired Asaph Mwebaze’s side to a 3-1 home victory over Blacks Power in their last league match.

Speaking to the club media ahead of the game, Bright Stars Head Coach Mwebaze is optimistic his side have prepared well and will come out victorious.

“We have been preparing for these League games since the beginning of this year,” Mwebaze opened up.

“We have only played twice so we’ve been preparing for the third and fourth games so we are looking forward to playing this game and picking three points.

“Because a win will push us up the league two more comfortable positions”.

Mwebaze is aware of UPDF’s struggles so he thinks they will also count on this game to pick maximum points.

“Of course UPDF will want this result as much as we want it but we have done much to make sure that our boys are ready, fit enough to see that we get the three points.”

In the reverse fixture, the played out a one all draw at Kavumba Recreation Ground after Loki Emmanuel lead for the hosts was cancelled by Kyeyune Abasi.

Stats

UPDF

UPDF are in the 13th position on the table with 12 points after 17 matches (2W, 6D, 9L)

They have scored just 13 points only bottom sides Onduparaka (12) and Blacks Power (11) have scored less and conceeded league high 29 goals.

The Army side have won at once in their last five matches, drawing and losing two each.

At Bombo Barracks Ground, they have played eight matches collecting 10 points with two wins, four draws and two defeats.

As hosts they have scored nine goals and conceeded eight times.

In their last five home matches, they have managed just one win three draws and a defeat.

Against Bright Stars they have played ten times picking three wins, five draws and two defeats.

They have scored eight goals and conceeded nine times.

The Bombo based side have hosted Bright Stars four times managing two wins, a draw and a defeat scoring five and allowing four.

Bright Stars
Soltilo Bright Stars are sixth in the standings with 24 points in sixteen matches. (6W, 6D, 4L)