Vipers SC Crowned Uganda Premier League Champions

Ugandan football fans witnessed a rare moment in the Azam Uganda Premier League. For the first time in over a decade, the Ugandan League winner was decided on the final match day.

With high anticipation of who was to be crowned champion and which teams were to face the knife, match day 30 of the 2017/18 season attracted the most attention in the history of the top flight football in the country.

Before kick-off, only two (SC Villa and Onduparaka) out of the 16 teams had confirmed their positions on the table. The Vipers needed to match second placed KCCA’s result if they were to be crowned champions. Anything short would mean KCCA would retain the title for the third year in a row.

The Venoms survived an early scare after conceding a goal from Joseph Janjari in the 24th minute. The Army side who were hoping to hold on to the lead to avoid relegation took a major blow three minutes to the break when midfielder Julius Kisambira was sent off for a bad foul on Duncan Seninde.

With a man down, the tides turned and Vipers used the gap left in the middle to their advantage. The started pressing from high up the field and soon got an equalizer thanks to Viper’s left back Yayo Lutimba’s strike just before half time.

They came back from the break with all guns blazing and three second half goals from Pius Wanji, Erisa Ssekisambu and Daniel Sserunkuma meant the Vipers had won the league despite the KCCA result in Namboole.

Meanwhile at Nambole, second placed KCCA, (without their head coach who lost his father) was held to a 2-2 draw by Police FC.

The Venoms finished the season with 65 points, four ahead of the defending champions KCCA and will be Uganda’s CAF Champions League representatives the coming year.

This is their first league crown since 2014-15 and third overall. Their first trophy came in the 2009/10 season when they were still known as Bunamwaya SC.

The Venoms can still finish the season with a double if they beat SC Villa in the semi-finals first leg this Sunday at Wankulukuku.

Meanwhile at the Green Stadium in Arua, a ten man Onduparaka side beat visitors Bright Stars to cement a fourth place finish this season.

Goals from Ceaser Okhuti and E1zra Bilda from both sides of the half were enough to see off the Stars who finished the season in the tenth position.

At Bugonga Fisheries Grounds in another heavily anticipated game, Alfred Leku’s lone strike in the 59th minute was all that Express FC needed to edge the hard tacklers Masavu FC in what was a battle for relegation survival.

The final whistle was greeted with wild cerebrations as fans of one of Uganda’s most supported clubs danced and songs of praise and exhilaration. They broke the wire mesh and carried the players around the pitch singing historic Express folklore.

The last three sides UPDF, Proline and Masavu FC were relegated to the FUFA Big League and will be replaced by new comers Ndejje University, Paidha Black Angles and Nyamityobora.

Final Match Day Results.

Masavu 0-1 Express FC

Mbarara 0-2 Kirinya Jinja

Onduparaka 2-0 Bright Stars

Police 2-2 KCCA

Proline 1-2 Uganda Revenue Authority

SC Villa 0-1 BUL FC

Soana 0-0 Maroons

Vipers 4-1 UPDF

Table standings after match day 30

AUPL 2017/18 Table

Top Scorers:

Dan “Muzeyi” Sserunkuma 17 goals (Vipers SC)

Nelson Senkatuka 15 goals (Bright Stars Fc)

Shaban Muhammad 13 goals (KCCA FC)

Milton Karisa 12 goals (Vipers SC)

Martin Kizza 10 goals (Sc Villa Jogoo)

Daniel Opolot Isiagi 10 goals (Proline FC)

Derrick Nsibambi 9 goals (KCCA FC)

Musa Esenu 9 Goals (Kirinya Jinja SSS FC)

Fred Amaku 8 goals (Kirinya Jinja SS)

Viane Sekajugo 8 goals (Onduparaka FC)