Interim Villa coach in limelight

The Uganda Premier League (UPL) resumes after a long international break with five matches lined up on Tuesday.

SC Victoria University versus four-time winners URA at Namboole should provide for some good viewing while the table topers Vipers and SC Villa continue the chase at the summit.

The Jogoos host stubborn Bul at Nakivubo looking to keep in touch with leaders Vipers, who control the log with 45 points, five more than the Jogoos.

Unbeaten Vipers themselves will look to stretch their lead when they travel too face Bright Stars in Matugga.

But it is at Nakivubo that the new man in the Villa dugout will be cast in the limelight in the wake of Sam Ssimbwa and the 16-time record champions partying ways last week.

For what seems like eternity, Ibrahim Kirya has been an assistant coach wherever he has been in a career spanning more than a decade.

In his second stint at Villa, the former Simba and URA assistant coach will be in the spotlight as he assumes Ssimbwa’s shoes in the interim.

Kirya was handed coaching reins until the end of season according to club president Ben Missaga, and is tasked with leading the club to the league title.

“Villa is a club that is always supposed to challenge for titles and we are confident that he and the club’s technical staff will deliver,” said Missaga.

Their opponents Bul are sixth and the possibility of picking a point off their opponents does not seem far-fetched following their goalless draw in the first leg.

“We drew with them in the first round so we want to try to beat them at their home turf,” said Bul coach Joseph Mutyaba.

This is the ninth meeting between the two sides with each winning three and drawing the other two.

UPL, TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

SCVU vs. URA– Namboole

Simba vs. Soana– Bombo

Sadolin Paints vs. Police– Bugembe, Jinja

SC Villa vs. Bul – Nakivubo

Bright Stars vs. Vipers – Matugga