Friday – Semifinals:
•St Henry’s Kitovu (Masaka) (6)1-1(5) Royal Giants (Mityana)
Next
•St Mary’s Kitende (Wakiso) Vs Amus College (Bukedea) – 2pm
St Henry’s College Kitovu have stormed this year’s National Schools Football Championships final after overcoming Royal Giants Mityana.
The SHACK, as they are known (abbreviate), needed to come from a goal down before winning the contest in shootouts.
Isa Bugembe scored early in the game to put the Mityana-based school ahead.
But SHACK got an equaliser just at the start of the second half thanks to along range drive from Godfrey Ssekabengo.
And in the shootouts, both teams converted their first five penalties for the contest to remain evenly poised.
Khalid Abubakar of SHACK had his penalty saved by Shamran Kamya who dived to his left, but needing to score to go through, Isa Bugembe failed the task when he sent his effort wide.
Given a second bite on the cherry, SHACK scored their kick through Collins Ntale, before Royal Giants’ Isaac Apenyu also missed the subsequent kick.
It was an energetic performance from SHACK who thought they had won it in injury time but the goal was ruled out for offside.
“That equaliser at the start of the second half gave us momentum,” said SHACK captain John Innocent Kisolo.
“We just thank God for helping us through. We had a goal cancelled at the death but we remained positive.
“We kept pushing, we have worked very hard, we have come from far to reach here and it’s just one game away from a title.
“We thank our fans, I have seen many people from Masaka who are here and its that support that will also help us in the final.”
SHACK meet winner between defending champions St Mary’s Kitende and Amus College of Bukedea in the final.
Frank Mulindwa, coach of Royal Giants, briefly commented: “We are so disappointed with this result.”
“We have lost many chances during the 90 minutes and we had a good opportunity because we were a penalty away from advancing to the final.”
Kitovu beat Westville to reach the Quarterfinals on Thursday while Royal Giants eliminated giants Buddo SS.
It’s strong to note that all the four semifinalists, and defending Champions Kibuli SS, will represent Uganda at the FEASSA Games later this year in Huye, Rwanda.
The Penalties
Kitovu
- Ssekibengo Godfrey ✅
- Njagala Jalaludine✅
- Mutasiga Ronald ✅
- Paul Mulindwa ✅
- Ssekisambu Reagan✅
- Khalid Abubakar ❌
- Collins Ntale ✅
Royal Giants
- Irakunda Abdu Razak✅
- Owane Yasin✅
- Ernest Ankunda ✅
- Juma Kizito✅
- Elvis Ssekajugo✅
- Isa Bugembe❌
- Isaac Apenyu❌
Lineups
St Henry’s Kitovu – Marvin Ssebirango, Collins Ocatre, Khalid Abubakar, Paul Mulindwa, Ronald Mutasiga, John Innocent Kisolo, Godfrey Ssekibengo, Reagan Ssekisambu, Marvin Joseph Lubega, Jonathan Bugembe, Walakira Lawrence
Royal Giants Mityana – Shamran Kamya, John Ainebyona, Emmanuel Kabolera, Isaac Apenyu, Yasin Owane, Jino Wabyona, Elvis Ssekajugo, Isa Bugembe, Arnest Ankunda, Gerald Ainebyona, Alex Otti Opio
