Tuesday, March 21
*SC Villa Vs BUL, Akii-bua Stadium – 2pm
*Maroons vs Arua Hill, Luzira prisons ground – 4pm
*Team News
- Maroons will be without Captain David Ndihabwe due to injury
- Odipio Norman and Opio Belmos are also ruled out.
- For Arua Hill, Rashid Toha and Atendele Geriga are out with the South Sudan National Team.
- Vuni Bright Joseph is also ruled out due to family issues
Probable Lineups
•Maroons: Simon Tamale (GK), Jacob Okao, Bayiga Patrick, Olega Ceaser, Abel Eturude, Felix Okot, Orombi Ronald, Solomon Walusimbi, Fred Amaku, Fredrick Kigozi, Abraham Tusubira.
•Arua Hill: Richard Anyama (GK), Paul Musamali, Ivan Okello, Rashid Muhamad, Matovu Patrick, Gadafi Kacancu, Allan Mugalu, Gadafi Wahab, Rashid Kawawa, Isaac Ogwang, Innocent Media.
Preview: Arua Hill Eye Double over Maroons
Arua Hill will target a league double over Maroons when the two sides clash at the Luzira Prisons ground.
The Kongolo were 3-1 winners over the Prison Warders at the Barifa Ground in the first round.
Livingstone Mbabazi’s side is in search for their first second round league win after succumbing to a 3-2 away defeat to leaders KCCA in the only game they have played this year.
They had their tie with defending champions Vipers postponed due to the Venoms involvement in the CAF Champions League.
However, the Arua based side are in a shambles after a number of their first team players have gone awol due to unpaid salaries.
For Maroons, they will hope to build on their strong start to the second half of the season.
Muhammad Ssenfuma’s side are unbeaten this year after winning two of their three games against Wakiso Giants and Busoga United. They picked a draw with Bright Stars.
Speaking ahead of the game, Maroons FC Assistant Coach Simon Peter Ojok is optimistic they will tame Arua Hill.
“So far we have been having a good start in the second round, trying to see that we maintain our good start and try to push among the best positions on the log,” Ojok said.
“In terms of technical and tactical implementation, we have been doing everything possible so that we can be able to play good football and also try to get the best result out of the game.
“Currently on the table Arua Hill is ahead of us and they have good players and coach.
“But as Maroons FC we are at home, we shall not give them that respect because as you know being home you have to use that home advantage to show them that we are a better side.
“We don’t focus on individual players but we know their strength, they are good in set pieces so we are working hard to see that we deal with that because we also have players that have been progressing in that area.”
Maroons come into this game confident after their 2-1 away triumph at Wakiso Giants thanks to Alinda Ambrose’s own goal and Fredrick Kigozi winner.
In his post match interview, Arua Hill Assistant Coach Ahmed Borini stressed lack of match fitness after two weeks without playing any league match.
“True it has been long but in the camp we are okay, every player is ready to play,” said Borin.
“I think the worst thing I that we missed is the intensity of the league so much because our first game with KCCA was very good and then after that we stayed long without playing.
“That is our worry because we are lacking match fitness now so we have tried very much to organise friendly matches but they are not related to the intensity of the league.
“So it’s a bit challenging to us but we are trying to work on that to see what happens”.
“We expect a tough game though we beat them at home 3-1 but going to someone’s home is a different thing because I think they didn’t forget about the result in the first leg.”
In the reverse fixture, a goal each from Rashid Kawawa, Innocent Media and Rashid Toha inspired Arua Hill to a 3-1 home victory over Maroons whose only goal was scored by Abraham Tusubira.
Stats
Maroons
Maroons are 10th on the log with 22 points after 17 matches. (5W, 7D, 5L)
They have scored 17 goals and conceeded 21 times.
The Prison Warders have won and drawn two apiece in their last five matches losing ther other.
Arua Hill
Arua Hill sits 8th on the log with 23 points in 15 Matches. (7W, 2D, 6L)
They have scored 18 goals and allowed 14 against them.
In their last five matches, the Kongolo have registered two wins, a draw and two defeats.
Head to Head
2022/2023
Arua Hill 3-1 Maroons
