Kalema Lawrence
The Azam Uganda Premier League season of 2017/ 2018 has finally come to an end today, Friday 25th May 2018 with only one champion and three relegation. All the 8 games started at the same time (4:00 pm) at different venues and registered a total of 18 goals from 7 games, two draws, two red cards, two home wins and four away wins. Here is how it happened at different stadiums.
SC Vipers 4 – 1 UPDF FC
This was both a trophy and relegation decider played at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, the home to SC Vipers. The hosts had to secure maximum points to be declared as the League’s champions while the visitor’s claim for maximim points had a great impact on their chances of staying in the League next season.
UPDF FC had an early lead through Janjali that was later cancelled and overturned by the Venom’s goal-hungry striking force with Yayo Lutimba, Sekisambu (Penalty), Dan Sserunkuma and Pius Wangi to end 4 – 1. Vipers were declared as Champions with 65 points from 30 matches (19 won, 8 drawn and 3 lost) while UPDF relegated with 29 points collected from 7 wins, 8 draws and 15 losses that put them in the 14th position on the 16 team log.
Mbarara City 0 – 2 Jinja
Jinja SS finally broke the spell of six winless games on the Last day by beating Mbarara City 2 – 0 at Kakyeka Stadium, Mbarara, scoring in the 16th and 61st minutes. Mbarara City were undefeated in their last 4 matches. Jinja finished 5th with 43 points from 12 wins, 8 draws and 10 losses while Mbarara 11th with 32 points from 6 wins, 14 draws and 10 losses.
Police FC 2 – 2 KCCA FC
This was a must win for the Kasasiro Boys away from home to keep their hopes of winning the trophy alive while hoping for Vipers failure to secure maximum points from their home match against UPDF FC. KCCA FC’s well taken free kick from Allan Okello was on Target to give them a lead at Mandela National Stadium in the 26th minut of the game but was cancelled within just after three minutes by Ogik.
Police later led the game in the closing minutes of the first half that was also later cancelled by KCCA FC’s Kaddu P in the 83rd minute for the game to end 2 – 2. KCCA FC finished second with 61 points from 17 wins, 10 draws and 3 losses. Police finished in= the 7th Position with 39 points from 11 wins, 6 draws and 13 losses.
Masavu 0 – 1 Express FC
The troubled Red Eagles had win this tightly contested match against fellow been relegation fighting Masavu FC. Proline’s fall at home to URA and UPDF FC’s fall at St Mary’s in the punishing hands of the Venoms had also a great impact in Express FC’s survival of relegation. They won Masavu by a lone strike from A. Leku in the third quarter of the game to finish 13th on the table with 31 points from 8 wins, 7 draws and 15 losses.
Masavu FC got relegated with 26 points from 5 wins, 11 draws and 14 losses that put them in the bottom position.
Onduparaka FC 2 – 0 Bright Stars
The one man down Caterpillars managed to beat Keishuke Honda’s Bright Stars at Green Light Stadium by goals from Ceaser Okhuti who was later sent off the pitch and Bida E in the 36th and 65th minute respectively. Onduparaka finished 4th with 48 points from 13 wins, 9 draws and 8 losses while Bright Stars 8th with 38 points from 8 wins, 14 draws and 8 losses.
Proline 1 – 2 URA SC
Daniel Isiagi gave proline a hope of staying in the league by scoring in the 40th minute but was cut short after URA FC came from down to beat them 2 – 1 and sink them down into the relegation. Kagimu was on target for URA at Startimes Stadium, Lugogo to help coach Sam Simbwa’s side finish 9th with 37 points from 9 wins, 10 draws and 11 losses.
Proline will be playing in the Big League next season after being relegated with 28 points that they collected from 7 wins, 7 draws and 16 losses.
Villa 0 – 1 BUL
SC Villa led the 16 teams log for over 4 months before a loss at home to SC Vipers demoralized the Jogoo boys hopes and started carelessly losing points in the next consecutive games. They also lost again at home, Masaka Recreation Grounds to BUL FC by 1 – 0. They not only failed to win their last four matches but also failed to see the back of the net.
The Blues finished third with 55 points from 16 wins, 9 draws and 5 losses having scored only 28 goals and conceded 12. They had the best defense of the season. On the other hand, BUL finished 6th with 39 points from 11 wins, 6 draws and 13 losses having conceded 29 and scored 26.
Soana 0 – 0 Maroons
The draw kings, Maroons FC just like on their first match of the season had their last match end in a barren draw to total up 19 draws being made by them from 30 matches with 6 wins and 5 losses to finish 10th on the table. They scored 18 goals and conceded 20. On he other hand, Relegation threatened Soana FC that only needed a draw to stay in the top flight next season finished 12th with 32 points from 8 wins, 8 draws and 14 losses. They scored 19 goals and conceded 35.
Meanwhile, Dan Muzeeyi Serunkuma was the top scorer of the season.
Summary of Results
Masavu 0 – 1 Express FC
Mbarara City 0 – 2 Jinja
Onduparaka FC 2 – 0 Bright Stars
Police 2 – 2 Kampala City
Proline 1 – 2 URA SC
Soana 0 – 0 Maroons
Villa 0 – 1 BUL
Vipers 4 – 1 UPDF
The Result Table
