Quarterfinal First Leg
Thursday 22nd September@3pm:
Nkumba vs UCU Mukono
Defending champions Uganda Christian University (UCU), Mukono and Nkumba University will lock horns on Thursday, September 22 in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie in the Pepsi University Football League (UFL).
Speaking on Wednesday at the pre-match media briefing, UCU coach Kintu Mwera said his boys will perform like they did in the group stage.
“As you know we finished as Group A leaders and if we can conduct ourselves the same way I believe we stand a strong chance of winning the game on Thursday,” Kintu said.
He added: “I know there has been a long break from when we last played a competitive game but we knew that we were through to the quarterfinals so returned to training in time for proper preparations.
“Nkumba is one the strongest team in the University Football League and they have always competed well and I know they will give us a hard time but we want to take full advantage.”
Nkumba’s coach Sulaiman Bbosa is optimistic that his team can eliminate the current title holders.
“We know the circumstances under which we qualified for this stage and we would like to utilize the opportunity,” Bbosa said.
“We are playing against the best team in the competition and they are the defending champions, it will be a difficult game. But we want to use the fact that we are playing at home first to full advantage,” Bbosa added.
Earlier in the competition in the group stage UCU was in the same group as Victoria University, Kumi University, and International University of East Africa. UCU garnered 13 points from their six games after winning four times, drawing, and losing once hence qualifying for the quarterfinals as Group A leaders.
On the other hand, Nkumba were in Group B with Makerere University Business School, University of Kisubi, and Muni University and they advanced to the last eight as one of the two best second-placed teams after garnering 12 points from their 6 games winning four and losing twice.