By Our Reporter,
NATIONAL
The Pepsi University Football League returns tomorrow with the defending champions Uganda Christian University (UCU) travelling to Nkozi tomorrow, Thursday 27th October, 2022 in a second leg of the semi-final tie.
UCU won the first leg at Mukono with a narrow 1-0 lead and it will be all to play for in the second leg at Nkozi.
Coach Kisuze Eric, (UMU) is confident that his side will be able to overturn deficit and advance to the final for the first time since 2017 when they also won it.
“Although we lost the first leg in Mukono I was very happy with how we played. The boys played very well and I know if we play like that again and polish on just a few areas we shall surely win,” Kisuze said.
“The fact that we have not lost a game at home this season is a great motivation for us and I know that with the support of our fans we shall make it,” he added
For UCU coach Ahumuza Collins, the fact that they were able to win the game while playing with 10-men for most of the game showed great character.
“As you know we scored in the first half but the goal scorer got a red card early in the second half. In spite of that the boys worked really hard to ensure that we won the game and that is the kind of togetherness required for a team to be successful.” Ahumuza said
“We shall go for the second leg with something positive to build on and I believe we are going to return to the final,” Ahumuza added.
UCU’s goal scorer Ofoywroth Isaac will miss the second leg having been the player sent off in the 58th minute of the first leg as will Uganda Martyrs Kasozi Kennedy who was also shown red in the 87th minute of the game.
The winner between UCU and Uganda Martyrs will face the winner between St. Lawrence University and Makerere University Business School. In the first leg hosted by St. Lawrence at Kavule on Tuesday, St. Lawrence came from behind to edge MUBS 2-1.
UCU and St. Lawrence are looking to make it to the Pepsi University Football League finals for a second consecutive season while both MUBS and Uganda Martyrs have not reached the final since 2017 when they faced each other in Namboole – a game that Uganda Martyrs won 2-0 to lift the trophy. MUBS have not won the Pepsi University Football League since 2015.
