Thursday, August 10
•BUL Vs Vipers
•SC Villa Vs Maroons
Friday, August 11
•Wakiso Giants Vs KCCA
•URA Vs Bright Stars
The 2023 FUFA Super Eight officially get underway with two mouthwatering clashes.
SC Villa welcome Maroons at Wankulukuku while Defending Champions Vipers take a trip to BUL at Njeru.
The tournament returns for the third edition – It was held in 2018 and 2019 before COVID19.
The top eight teams from last season’s Uganda Premier League will compete in this year’s Tournament.
It’s a change from the last two editions where the top six from the league and two newly promoted sides were considered.
FUFA has since replaced Arua Hill with Bright Stars after the former fell short on FUFA Club Licensing.
The tournament is being played on a knockout basis, but each of the eight teams taking part in this year’s edition will be guaranteed to play at least three games including classifications.
The Winners at the quarterfinal stage will proceed to the semifinals while the losers will play two classification games to determine positions 5-8.
The Winners at the semifinal stage will advance to the final while the losers will play a classification game to determine positions 3 and 4.
The final will be one-leg played at a neutral ground.
At the Quarterfinals, in case of a draw after 90 minutes, direct shootouts will separate the two sides.
SC Villa Vs Maroons:
SC Villa will fancy their chances against Maroons when the two sides face off.
Last season in the league, the results were split, with each host winning the fixture 1-0.
Villa drew first blood in December when Patrick Kakande scored the only goal of the game in a game played in Lira.
It was an eventful affair headlined by Kenneth Ssemakula’s red card who, using his hand, denied Maroons an equaliser for the referee to point to the spot, but Fred Amaku was denied twice from the spot by Meddie Kibirige including a rebound.
In May, the second round, Ronaldo Orombi’s goal separated the two sides in Luzira.
Villa finished the season third, losing the title on the last day of the season after defeat to URA FC.
Maroons on the other hand finished sixth with 41 points after a stellar season in which they won 10 games.
A lot has happened since then, with Villa handing the coaching role to Serbian coach Dusan Stojanovic.
Meddie Kibirige is expected to start in goal, Peter Onzima and Umar Lutalo as fullbacks while Edward Masembe and Kenneth Ssemakula in the heart of defence.
Abasi Kyeyune and David Owori at the flanks, Hamza Mulambuzi, Ronald Ssekiganda and Davis Ssekajja in the middle of the park while the lanky Denis Ojara up front.
As Villa’s decision to part ways with head coach Jackson Magera turned heads, Maroons on the other side handed Muhammad Seenfuma a three-year contract.
The club has since lost a couple of players including best goalkeeper of last season Simon Tamale.
Brian Nkuubi, Samson Kigozi and Noel Nasasira were let go while Brian Kayanja has had his contract expired.
Goalkeeper Hannington Ssebwalunyo is their confirmed signing while Amir Nalugoda, Patrick Bayiga and Edward Kabona extended their contracts.
BUL Vs Vipers
BUL and Vipers meet in the latest installment of what has proved to be a blockbuster fixture on the local scene.
The big highlights of this movie started in Uganda Cup finals when Vipers won the 2021 final 8-1. But BUL got their revenge in Booma to win 3-1 in 2022 final.
Last season in the league, despite Karim Ndugwa handing BUL an early lead at Kitende, the Venoms bounced back before halftime with goals from Milton Karisa and Cromwell Rwothomio to win 2-1.
And in the second round, after former BUL coach Alex Isabirye crossed to Vipers, Sam Ssekamatte scored for BUL and Vipers needed a late penalty from Watambala to secure a point, a result that all seemed to have handed Villa a league title on the day KCCA also failed to beat Busoga United.
Talking of Isabirye, Vipers parted ways with the gaffer despite guiding the side to a double – their first in history.
And a Brazilian in Leo Neiva was brought in as Vipers and Foreign-based coaches story continued.
Disan Galiwango, Frank ‘Zaga’ Tumwesigye, Ibrahim Orit, Bashir Asiku, Musa Ssali, Olivier Osomba, Garcia Mpongo Mbombo and Serge Robert Mwenge have been let go, the Venoms confirmed.
Ghanaian forward Awisome Fumador,
Mauritanian Salim Ekbad, Brazilians Giancarlo Rodriguez and Luiz Otavio Santos de Araujo alias Tinga are some of their marquee signings.
Richard Matovu, David Bagoole, Grant Matsiko and Paul Patrick Mbowa have also joined the Club.
The Venoms won this tournament in 2019, with Fahad Bayo scoring twice against KCCA who later had John Revita sent off.
Their ultimate target may not be winning it again, but will use the tournament to test their players in a competitive match situation as they gear up for CAF Champions League and UPL.
BUL on the other hand, ended the second round without winning a single game, and with new coach Abbey Bogere Kikomeko, there seems to be renewed confidence at one of the most well facilitated club in the Country.
