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Vitalis Tabu to the rescue as SC Villa edge Soana in league opener.

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Vitalis Tabu is mobbed by teammates after finding the winner for SC Villa 

By: SINAN RAJUB SENOGA 

Substitute Vitalis Tabu was the difference as SC Villa defeated Soana 1-0 in the first game of the league at Masaka recreational grounds.

Tabu brilliantly curved a free kick over the wall to beat the gleaming Soana goalkeeper Meddie Kibirige with 18 minutes left on the clock. Tabu had barely made his way on the pitch replacing unyielding Allan Kyambadde when SC Villa was awarded a direct free kick on the edge of the 18 yards box after a foul on Simon Serunkuma.

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7 minutes later, Shafik Bisaso’s men almost successfully retaliated with a leveller from a corner but Anthony Bongole’s effort was timely cleared away by Martin Kizza.

The two sides had played a barren first half and by the hour mark, SC Villa coach Wasswa Bbosa had run out of patience after Soana playing a hard team to break down. Bbosa quickly made changes in his team bringing on pacy Martin Kizza and Ambrose Kirya for Godfrey Lwesibawa and Abel Eturude for immediate impact soon after the recess.

Simon Sserunkuma made his debut against Soana. 

With a minute to the halftime mark, Godfrey Lwesibawa’s well curled free kick hit the cross bar coming off the well stretched hands of Kibirige. The set piece was a resultant infliction on Kibirige’s foul play on George Senkaaba. Kibirige had intentionally hit George Ssenkaba in the face for slowing down his reactionary ball distribution coming off a corner kick.

Deep in the second half, SC Villa skipper Bernard Muwanga confronted Anthony Bongole after a harsh challenge on Henry Katongole but the referee of the day Aisha Semambo left the pair go scot free without any cautions.

As Wasswa Bbosa and his men kept on pushing for the match winner, Kibirige in the Soana goal had different ideas making a couple of saves to frustrate the hosts. Even when his defence was caught off guard by a well laid through ball, he closed in on the recipient Simon Serunkuma forcing him to chip the ball poorly. However, the former Vipers SC shot stopper gave in on the relentless attacks when Tabu’s sublime strike came in the 72nd minutes.

Villa newly signed striker Ssenkaba had a poor debut although he nearly fired on target in the dying minutes of the game but could not beat the Soana goalkeeper. He spent the entire 90 minutes isolated upfield and was at most times overshadowed by the Soana gigantic centre back pair of Ibrahim Kizza and Mike Kawooya.

Today’s win elevates SC Villa to the top of the log with only 5 games played. SC Villa will visit Police FC at Namboole on Saturday 16th while Soana will play host to Bright Stars at Kavumba recreation grounds on Friday 15th September.

SC Villa XI
Kirya Samson (GK), Mukasa Musa, Adriko John, Henry Katongole, Kiyemba Ibrahim, Bernard Muwanga (C), Abel Eturude, Allan Kyambadde, George Ssenkaba, Lwesibawa Godfrey, Simon Serunkuma

Substitutes
Martin Kizza (48′ Godfrey Lwesibawa), Ambrose Kirya (52′ Abel Eturude), Vitalis Tabu (71′ Allan Kyambadde)

Subs not used
Sam Kivumbi (GK), Joseph Nsubuga, Musisi Farouk, Mahad Kakooza.

Soana XI
Kibirige Meddie (GK), Siraje Turyamuhebwa, Dalausi Kiwalabye, Mike Kawooya, Ibrahim Kizza (C), Misi Katende, Emma Kalyowa, Willy Kavuma, Baker Buyala, Paddy Muhumuza, Baker Lukooya.

Substitutions
Allan Kayiwa (53′ Emma Kalyowa), Anthony Bongole (58′ Baker Buyala), Osman Wejjuli (79′ Willy Kavuma)

Subs not used
Joel Mutakubwa (GK), Abudallah Nyanzi, Owen Kasule, John Muwanguzi.

Booked
SC Villa
Adriko John (20′) Vitalis Tabu (77′)

Soana FC
Paddy Muhumuza (39′), Kibirige Meddie (45′)

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