It will take some time before SC Villa and Douglas Bamweyana can find something to smile about, the 16 time champions looked on as URA added more salts to their wounds.
A Sam Ssimbwa-less URA FC side fought for dear life to pick up their first win of the second round in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League beating SC Villa 1-0 at Namboole Stadium.
Assistant coach George Lutalo was calling the shots was delighted after the side picked three points.
“We knew from the start we needed to pick up three points, I told the boys to fight and make it count and am happy they did it,” Lutalo told www.football-256.com.
“It a good start to the second round, we can build on this win and better our position on the table but also boost the confidence of our players,” he added.
Centre back Patrick Mbowa got the all important goal in the 38th minute heading home midfielder Saidi Kyeyune’s corner kick to silence the Villa crowd.
Villa started off aggressively, in the 20th minute Ashraf Mandela headed wide a Mike Sserumaga cross, he should have done better.
At some stage, URA had to play with 10 men after skipper Shafik Kagimu got a knock, he was later taken to hospital for further treatment. Moses Seruyide replaced him.
After recess, SC Villa seemed to go all out in search for an equalizer but URA showed more composure and quelled any threats.
Villa forward Bashir Mutanda threatened but his shot in the 59th minute was a few inches from the post. That was the closest URA let him try to shoot at their goal.
URA changed goalies after James Alitho injured his ribs, Nifian Alionz Legason came on without a proper warmup, he looked shaky at the start but later settled in the game.
Villa had one final chance in the 77th minute to level matters through Habib Kavuma but Nifian Alionz was up to the task saving a one on one.
Seruyide could have wrapped it up for the hosts but he was denied by the bar with five minutes to go.
The action ended proceedings with URA picking up their 5th win of the season which takes them a spot up to 5th on 25 points.
For Bamweyana, it was down to lack of personnel and allowing the opposition to play to their strength.
“We lacked some of our players because they were not cleared in time to play but overall, I am happy with the boys’ effort, they worked so hard,” he said.
Villa now sit 13th with six losses from 16 games, they have only managed two wins and eight draws.
