The Azam UPL title race was blown wide open after Villa suffered a 1-0 loss at home to Vipers and KCCA were pegged back by Onduparaka.
The race for the Uganda Premier League title has not been this heart-stopping in a long time. Vipers SC striker Daniel ‘Mzei’ Sserunkuuma’s goal which on Tuesday ended table leaders SC Villa’s unbeaten home record as well as KCCA FC’s 1-1 away to West Nilers Onduparaka on the same day ensured the kind of season finale we could only have dreamed of is actually on the cards. The top three teams; Villa, KCCA and SC Vipers will now head into the final bend all strongly in contention for the 2017/18 Azam Uganda Premier League title—and with no clear favourite.
The mid-week results mean only three points separate the top three with six rounds to play, with the exception of Vipers who have seven games to play owing a postponed fixture against Express FC. The Red Eagles may not be challenging for the title but they could determine where it ends up. Threatened by relegation, they must get points off either one or all of Villa, KCCA and Vipers to confirm survival, and the added spice comes from the fact that two of those three games are to be played at their menacing Wankulukuku War Memorial Stadium.
Villa lead the table on 49 points, KCCA are second on 48 and Viper are third on 46, albeit with a game in hand. With the trio’s next fixtures dominated by games against relegation strugglers battling for survival, it is only going to get more interesting. Vipers would be forgiven for feeling most confident, as they host five of their remaining seven games at their Kitende home. Villa, on the other hand play four of their last six away from home. KCCA’s games are evenly split; three at home and three away. Let the games begin.
Villa fixtures
Mbarara City v SC Villa
SC Villa v Kirinya Jinja SS
Proline v SC Villa
UPDF v SC Villa
Express FC v SC Villa
SC Villa v BUL FC
KCCA fixtures
KCCA FC v URA FC
Vipers SC v KCCA FC
Express FC v KCCA FC
KCCA FC v BUL FC
KCCA FC v Proline FC