Sc Villa surge to UPL summit amidst chaotic match day

SC Villa heads into the climactic day of the 2023/24 Uganda Premier League season with a significant advantage and a promising opportunity to seize their first title in two decades.

In a thrilling showdown at Wankulukuku on Tuesday, the Jogoos staged a remarkable comeback to clinch a crucial victory over URA FC, propelling them to the summit of the league standings.

In a tightly contested encounter, SC Villa showcased resilience after conceding an early goal, ultimately triumphing 2-1, with the decisive strike coming in the 88th minute.

Echoing the narrative of the previous season, URA FC displayed unwavering determination to thwart SC Villa’s championship aspirations. Notably, SC Villa suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to URA FC on the final day of the preceding season, allowing Vipers SC to snatch the league title.

The sense of déjà vu was palpable as URA FC threatened to derail SC Villa’s ambitions once again. Taking the lead in the 80th minute through Bruno Bunyaga, URA FC seemed poised to repeat history.

However, unlike the previous season, SC Villa refused to succumb to despair and relentlessly pressed forward. Their persistence paid off when Umar Lutalo netted the equalizer just three minutes later.

With mere minutes remaining on the clock, SC Villa’s captain, Kenneth Ssemakula, seized control of the moment, unleashing a stunning long-range strike that eluded goalkeeper Denis Otim, igniting jubilation among the Villa faithful.

The euphoria was further amplified by favorable outcomes elsewhere, as Kitara FC suffered a 1-0 defeat to Soltilo Brights FC, while BUL FC settled for a goalless draw against Mbarara City FC.

Heading into the final showdown against NEC FC, SC Villa occupies the top spot in the standings with 54 points, holding a narrow one-point lead over both BUL FC and Vipers SC, with Kitara FC trailing in fourth place with 51 points.