Derby ended in a barren draw

SC Villa Greek boss Petros Koukouras Saturday afternoon will have realised he manages the country’s most successful club and that he was out against the country’s most supported side in the city’s biggest derby.

Ahead of the derby, Koukouras promised his side was going to do everything to put up with the league champions and give fans a delicious meal to feast on.

“I hear it is the biggest game in Uganda. People have told me a lot about this derby and how important it is. I greatly understand the rivalry between the two clubs but to me, it’s just an away game like the rest.”

With fans donned in red and blue, the two Kampala sides finally returned to add flavour to the biggest derby on the land. Thanks to SC Villa for allowing their prodigal son Omar Mandela back to the club’s board as President.

The Jogoos have had a change in environment, feel and ambition with the new President Mandela. Sources at the club have it that arrears of players have been cleared to zero balance while they have been advanced to Cafe Javas for their refreshments.

On the pitch, the level of the motivation with the players emulated a group that are up for the big task under the new management. Petros Koukouras admitted to the new atmosphere at the club which he felt he and the players had on their shoulders to shake off ahead of the game.

Koukouras hailed: “We have to follow our plan and do everything possible to win something from this game. My players are disciplined and the backroom is supportive so we are well streamlined for the game.”

The Mandela influence was on show with the SC Villa wing of blue fans cheering to their team’s performance. Koukouras did not disappoint with neat passing and possession football.

The fans who sang and danced all afternoon will have returned with something to cheer about. Travis Mutyaba who walked home with the man of the match accolade is amazing to watch.

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The young lad who you can write in the same sentence with club legend boda boda Hakim Magumba if you like danced passed four Express FC players only to be let down by Iddi Abduwahid who failed to bury home his final pass.

Travis is highly rated by the Greek coach and the club executive who feel they have a player to build the new SC Villa around.

The club were pleased by the turn up. “We thank the 12th player who pushed us in the derby. You created a mesmerising ambiance. We are glad to have the best fans in the country.”

New boy Gift Fred was excited about his debut game and described it as: “Tough game it was but we secured a point; we’ll keep our heads up. Proud to make my debut for @SCVillaJogoo“

With Express FC forcing a draw against high flying Vipers SC before international break, many thought the SC Villa fixture would be an easy meal after falling to Wakiso Giants at Kavumba Recreational Grounds.

Express FC forward Charles Musiige dismissed the talks by appreciating the challenge from derby rivals SC Villa: “Today wasn’t an easy game, many people thought we’d easily win the game convincingly but this is a derby, in such games there is no small or big team so I think earning a point isn’t bad, we shall take it and go back to try to work on our finishing because we didn’t score and we need to score.”

However, the reds boss Wasswa Bossa blamed the lack of goals to his forwards who failed to convert chances he said his team created.

“Today we managed a point, I felt we had chances in the game especially in the first minutes but I guess it just wasn’t our day, we shall take points but go back and improve on our finishing because we have to bounce back better”.

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