The mid-season report confirmed Abezekyenda as the early pace setters with 26 points and an 8-point gap between them and second placed solutions and Abakachai. It's tight at the bottom as Aboojo, Ntemi and Amahoome are locked in a 3-team relegation battle - all teams level on 6 points.
Enturi's Mets, Legends' Derrick and Abezekyenda's Benjamin are the league's top marksmen with 6 goals each. Enturi's Coleb, Abaleni's Jose vet, Abezekyenda's Johnson are the top assists Kings of the league with 6 each.
Abukyariire's Karugaba and Abaleni's Warren have the league's safest pair of hands in goalposts, each keeping 7 clean sheets.
Gwk5 was an emotional roller coaster for most teams that had high ambitions. I was on ground to witness how the drama unfolded on kanyanya ground.
Nsiikye saints 1 vs 0 Ntemi Chiefs
Remy, a summer signing from Abanihizi grabbed all the headlines by scoring the winning goal against Ntemi Chiefs after Micheal Kikooko turned provider. It was a cagey game where any team had the opportunity to win but the Saints showed more urgency. Mukama dictating tempo in Ntemi's midfield and Tobias the enforcer in Saints’ midfield. Kabaka was the rock of Gibraltar in saints’ defence meaning Guma was well shielded from Ntemi Chiefs bombardment. Wild celebrations at the end as technical head Bwije applauded his team for the win.
Aboojo 1 vs 1 Emanzi
The two old teams went head-to-head but it ended in a stalemate.
However, there was a more improved performance from Aboojo with Dennis making an appearance and reinforcements arriving in time. Ikanga set up Christopher for the opener. Emanzi skipper, Talemwa who is turning into a penalty addict just like in our old Kakyeka playing days, stepped up to slot the ball into the right top center from the penalty spot to earn Emanzi a point.A hero saving heroes right at the death from jaws of defeat.
Abaleni 2 vs 0 Entumwa
The apostles forgot to appease the holy Spirit and the journey men made light work of them.
Abaleni's Vet Jose assisted Emmanuel officer's well taken goal. Edmund compounded more misery on Entumwa by showing more wizardry on the ball with his silky left foot to score a great goal. Abaleni's Severious the architect of this goal.
Basheya 2 vs 0 Abanihizi
It's now turning into a culture that Abanihizi struggle with old men. Basheya have been the surprise package of the league this season. Having flirted with relegation the previous season, they are rubbing shoulders with the top six clubs of the league. Basheya's keeper Joe Mukasa Ekinyabwoya was invincible in goal and he handled all shots Abanihizi attackers Josephat and Gilbert fired comfortably. Richie Opposer and Ziwa Raymond have created Basheya's x factor in killing off teams. Richie set up Innocent for the first goal to give Basheya the lead. Abanihizi went all out in search of an equalizer and the bulky built Basheya striker Kwizera placed a wonderful pass in the path of Ziwa Raymond who made no mistake but to score Basheya's second goal.
Basheya guys demanded for the league table after the match and called for a covid like epidermic to stop the league, the only way to cement their temporary top 4 spot. Abanihizi players like Jeremy, Josephat and Gilbert cursing at full time whistle.
Abezekyenda 1 vs 0 Abukyariire
Table leaders Abezekyenda thought Abukyariire are pushovers by resting their top scorers Benjamin and Nicholas but when they realized things are not flowing as per game plan, they brought on their star players to change the game. The impact was imminent. More combination attacks between Nico, Benja and Oscar but Katumba and Karema stood firm to contain them in midfield.
Johnson sent a teasing ball in the box, Herbert and Rutanana failed to deal with it. Benjamin pounced on a half turn to give Abezekyenda the lead. Abukyariire huffed and puffed but they couldn't find the equalizer as they missed chance after chance as Newton for the first time looked uncomfortable in the purple shark's goal posts. Whoever matched away with big man Kakuru shooting predator boots did him and Abukyariire a disservice. He has not scored since he lost his boots after scoring the winner in the game against Abomutumba. Abezekyenda matched on with maximum points, Abukyariire continue their journey to end goal drought.
Solutions 1 vs 0 Abakuubwa
Senkima and goal keeper Rogers are the two solutions players who stood in the path of glory for defending champions.
On paper this was going to be a physical encounter because both teams use a heavy metal aggressive style of play but the old solutions men outwitted them with experience.
Senkima gave solutions the lead with a long kick, that evaded the attention of Abakuubwa defender Stephen and his keeper Derrick.
Elgio won the penalty for Abakuubwa after he was fouled in penalty box. Solutions players started their mind games by protesting and kicking away the ball from penalty spot. Elgio and Ivan failed to come to terms on who should take the penalty. Elgio finally stepped up to take it but it was thwarted by solutions keeper Rogers. Solutions held on to their narrow win and Senkima defended with his life. This was the game that won Abakuubwa the title last season well this is the game that ended their title hopes this season.
Legends 1 vs 1 Ababombo
The long-awaited derby finally was finally before our eyes.
Ababombo still nursing scars of their skipper Itamba joining legends. The hostile environment was set with Ababombo fan favorite Brenda and Ababombo chair fueling up the intimidating environment on the social media platforms and on the sidelines while Legends’ 'Mr Yes, I JK’ was on the mic to throw in subliminal shots to Ababombo's camp.
The derby lived up to its expectation with tackles flying in, jeers at every ref's decision, cheers at every nutmeg, success dribble, shot on goal or off target. Itamba was denied room to influence the match in midfield by his former teammates Anthony and Victor, this left Kansiime and Derrick frustrated with lack of proper supply of balls. Penalty was awarded to Legends. Diru stepped up to take the penalty. Legends players and fans seemed worried whether Diru had the cojones to convert the penalty. Prophet of doom and Ababombo's vocal keeper Paya who had said the previous day that Legends's funeral was this day looked humbled in goal as he was at Legend Diru’s mercy. Diru expertly converted from the penalty spot to give Legends the lead. Legends failed to kill off the game, as JK continued to throw shots in Ababombo's camp.
The pink boys upped the tempo and Rastafarian Danny dispossessed the ball from Legends' Credo, laid on the ball to Anthony who dribbled, took a cryuff-esque turn and launched a screamer Legends' Bright in goal could not save.
A beautiful goal brought the game at level from a special player, Anthony who led the Jovoc school team's attack in his youthful playing days but now confined to a midfield general role in the twilight of his Ababombo football playing career. Ababombo fans evaded the pitch with wild celebrations such was the importance of Tony's goal. Both teams held on for a point till the final whistle.
Amahoome 1 vs 1 Abakawu
Amahoome's resurgence from the bottom of the log continued with a well-deserved draw against Abakawu. However, prior, Amahoome seemed to be architects of their downfall after they could not raise a complete team. Abakawu failed to make use of their numerical advantage by missing chance after chance and this came back to haunt them at the death of the game. Joseph laid on the assist to Abakawu's livewire Peterson to give the cow boys the lead. Dangerman Akampurira Derrick laid on assist for Allan Ankunda to equalize after sloppy defending from the cowboys to bring the game level at the death. Each side matched away with a point.
Emanzi 0 vs 1 Nsiikye Saints
Whatever Saints touched in game week 5, turned into gold. There's a narrative of never change a winning team so I don't know if technical head Bwije will have a slot in the starting Saints team when he returns from injury.
Emanzi failed to repeat last season's trick of thumping Nsiikye. Much as Aliganyira, Fox, James huffed and puffed they never found a way past a colossal organized defense manned by Kabaka and Guma in goal. In the end, Remy whose sign off fee was cleared popped up to set up Arnold who scored and gave the Saints maximum points for the first time in the history of the league and this helped them to surpass their last season points.
Abomutumba 1 vs 0 Amajojo
Amajojo never recovered from an early goal. Alba the creator was in perfect harmony with striker Dusenge to give the yellow bananas boys the lead.
The rest of the match was a possession passing session for Abomutumba as they held onto the win. Amajojo's Peter was manned by talent and Alba and this limited his chaos factor whenever the elephants attacked.
Amahome 2 vs 0 Basheya
Prior to their earlier win against Abanihizi, Basheya found out that the JOVOC league is not a bed of roses.
Amahoome shocked this season's surprise package with a convincing 2-0 win. Tyson Mpairwe was a thorn in Basheya's defense and he laid on assists for danger man Tindyebwa Isaac who scored a brace worthy of a place on team of the week. Isaac's goals helped Amahoome to their first win of the season and we hope the old man will be firing on all cylinders in the next game week.
Abakawu 1 vs Amajojo 0
Amajojo dominated this game but couldn't find a way past the cowboys' defense manned by Mr Gas and Cygan Aijuka.
Rwezahura scored the penalty to give the cowboys maximum points.
Abanihizi 4 vs 0 Ntemi Chiefs
There was finally a smile from Jeremy after hearing the final whistle.
The trekkers were too hot to handle for the chiefs.
Inconsistency is responsible for Abanihizi's up and down season but they were in buoyant mood as they thrashed the Chiefs. Josephat continued with his rich vein of form by bagging a brace. Sapi and Alodine scored to compound more misery onto the Chiefs. Albert, Pascal and Sapi credited with creating goals.
Abezekyenda 3 vs 0 Entumwa
Coach Arch Emma had a bad day in office as he failed to stop Abezekyenda's juggernaut in the one-sided derby.
Oscar and Johnson ran amok as they tore Entumwa's defence into shreds. Johnson assisted twice, Oscar walked away with a brace and Nicholas popped up with a third goal for the purple sharks.
3-0, the derby ended in favor of the 90ers as this win helped to bridge an 8 point with second placed title chasers.
Abakachai 0 vs 0 Enturi
You love the adrenaline when the young boys go head-to-head in a derby.
It was an end-to-end cagey game where each side could have won the game. Akachai were let down by the inconsistency of their attackers Cedric, Muheebwa and LeBron while Enturi couldn't score in absence of their suspended talisman Mets.
Both sides shared the spoils.
Other results
- Abaleni 0 vs 0 Solutions
- Abomutumba 0 vs 0 Ntemi Chiefs
- Ababombo 0 vs 0 Abukyariire
- Abukyarire 0 vs 0 Abakachai
- Abakuubwa 0 vs 0 Enturi
- Ábakachai 0 vs 0 Aboojo
- Legends 0 vs 0 Abomutumba
See you on 16th October for #gwk6.