UPDF and Gaddafi meet today in UPL relegation battle

Uganda Premier League

Tuesday

URA v NEC

UPDF v Gaddafi

Thursday

KCCA v Mbarara City

Maroons v Busoga Utd

Friday

Kitara v Vipers

Two points separate Gaddafi in 14th place (18pts) and UPDF in 15th (16pts) in the relegation battle in the Uganda Premier League.

The two sides meet today at Bombo Barracks in Luwero with each side targeting nothing but maximum points to keep their slim survival hopes alive.

The victorious side at the end of the day will move out of the relegation zone and to 13th place which is occupied by Busoga United also on 18 points but with a better goal difference.

Busoga will not be in action until Thursday when they will be playing Maroons away at Luzira Prison Grounds in Nakawa, Kampala.

Gaddafi comes into today’s match after a poor run of form that has seen them pick up only two points from their last eight league matches while conceding so many goals

UPDF on the other hand, have tried to step up in the last four games where they have picked up six points out of the possible 12 after defeats to Vipers and Express.

In the reverse fixture played at the Gaddafi Arena in Jinja, UPDF scored first through Bright Vuni in the 25th minute and Thomas Odongo equalized for Gaddafi with two minutes to the end of the first half.

Benison Muhindo stepped up in the 64th minute and scored a penalty that gave the Army side all three points.

The remaining six matches for Busoga United, Gaddafi, and UPDF are all must-win for each side and also one of the three has to pray for the other two drop points to grab the 13th place which is the last position of safety on the table.

Already, Arua Hill got relegated to the FUFA Big League at the start of the second round when they failed to meet the licensing requirements set by the Licensing Committee.

Away from this relegation battle, at the Kabaka Kyabaggu playgrounds in Wakiso district, struggling URA hosts Hussein Mbalangu’s high-flying NEC.

URA comes into this contest on the back of three straight league defeats that led to the sacking of David Obua last week from his position as head coach.

The tax collectors will be handled by Robert Mukasa who was appointed interim coach after Obua’s exit.

NEC, on the other hand, are fresh from reaching the semifinals of the Uganda Cup after that 2-0 victory over Police and are also in fifth position on the table with 40 points whereas their hosts are eight points behind them in the ninth position.

Cromwell Rwothomio, a former URA player, and Joseph Dhata scored for NEC to secure a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture played at the Philip Omondi Stadium Lugogo in December.