We are back in action on Thursday against Villa at Wankulukuku. The Jogoos won the reverse fixture 2-0 and it will be pay back time at Wankulukuku on the 11th of April.

Here are the six things we should look out for.

Express v Villa | UPL | Thursday 11th April | Betway Mutesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku | Kick off 4pm | #EXPVIL

Muwanga back in goal?

Muwanga missed the last two games, a 1-0 loss against URA at Nambole and a 2-0 win against Paidha Black Angels at Wankulukuku. The keeper had a dislocated toe in those two games back had kept goal for the first 8 games coach George Ssimwogerere was in charge and had an impressive record, 5 clean sheets in 8 cup and league games. Tony Kyamera replaced him against URA and Paidha Black Angels and the young shot stopper managed 1 clean sheet out of the two games. We await to see whether Muwanga will be back in goal or Kyamera will continue between the sticks but whoever selected will do a good job.

Villa fighting for their life

The boys in Blue are in dilemma for probably the first time in their history, they are 12th on the table with 26 points 5 better than 14th places Ndejje University Lions who may face the cut if they don’t improve with only 5 games to go. A loss to Express and a win for Ndejje may see Villa only 2 points better than Ndejje ahead of matchday 26, that is a position they don’t want to be in with their ever demanding following, however, the Red Eagles will not have any of that in their mind apart from delivering the three points to their faithfuls who always need the best result in this fixture. Villa being in such a position will probably give them an extra incentive to win at Wankulukuku and we shall have a mouthwatering encounter upon us on Thursday at Wankulukuku.

Bashir Mutanda

You can not mention Villa without mentioning this man, he has been their shunning light until of recent when he seems to have fallen out of favour having started on the bench in their previous 2-1 win against Mbarara City at Nambole. He has so far scored 13 goals 4 behind leading scorer Juma Balinya of Police FC. He was the decider of the reverse fixture at Nambole in the first round notching a brace in a game where the Red Eagles dominated the game but Villa later grew in the game and took all three points after a 2-0 win. We need to keep an eye on him if given an opportunity to play on Thursday.

Plenty of attacking options at Coach Sim’s disposal

Against Paidha Black Angels coach Sim had a very interesting bench, Birungi, Odur and Kambale all started from the bench due to playing a game in drum tournament with limited recovery time and Kambale was just recovering from injury. Against Villa at Wankulukuku with over a week of recovery there will not be any limitations for these players to start the game but again all of them can not start the game and will have to wait from the bench. Coach Sim will definitely have a selection headache up front and his team but whoever selected will do as much as he can to deliver. We wait to see how it will pan out.

Is it pay back time?

The loss at Nambole was a painful one, with all due respect to SCVilla they were on their knees with just one league in the campaign against Nyamityobora at Wankulukuku and had just hired a new coach, former Express coach Douglas Bamweyana and most people expected Express to run riot against them and the Red Eagles started as many expected only to fade away as the game went on and Villa became the dominant side wining 2-0 courtesy of strikes by Bashir Mutanda from each half. On Thursday at Wankulukuku where the Red Eagles have not lost a game since coach George Ssimwogerere was appointed and have conceded only one goal we expect it to be pay back time but until the final whistle is blown you can’t be certain in football.

Bamweyana back at Wankulukuku

Coach Douglas Bamweyana worked at Express for two stints. He was a fitness coach under Coach Wasswa Bbosa two years ago and later became the head coach last season in the first round after the departure of coach Matia Lule. He managed nine games, lost 5, drawn 2 and won 2 and he was replaced by Shafic Bisaso who is now at Proline FC to manage a tumultuous campaign similar to what Villa are in the season. Despite spending a small time at Wankulukuku Coach Bamweyana left a mark at the club due to his selfless service and commitment to the job and he will always be respected for that. It is great to see him in the game we all love again and at the top level in the country.

How do you think the game will end on Thursday?
Let us know in the comments section below.

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