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It’s a third back-to-back away trip for the Eastern Giants across all competitions in a space of just one week as we travel to Kakyeka stadium to take on Mbarara City this Monday.
BUL are unbeaten in their last three games after a vital home win over Tooro United was followed up by victory in Uganda cup and a share of the spoils away at Kakindu stadium last time out as the Eastern Giants held Busoga United to a point.
The Eastern Giants will be looking to secure their eleventh UPL victory of the season, having already beaten the Ankole Lions at the Kyabazinga stadium back in November of the previous year.
Ibrahim Nsimbe’s 65th minute strike proved to be decisive that day and there can be no doubt that the team will be looking for a repeat on Monday.
BUL is currently fourth on the table with 37 points from 22 matches, only ahead of Arua Hill SC on goal difference, meaning that their destiny of a top four finish is in their own hands and if they have the chance to defeat Mbarara City by a heavy margin, then they must take that with both hands.
From their 22 fixtures so far, the Ankole Lions have taken 18 points from a possible 66, and they are four points from safety as they sit 15th on the 16 team log with eight matches remaining.
With them having not won any of their last 12 games, they will also be hoping to improve their form between now and the end of the season to boost their bid of trying to escape the drop zone.
Matches between the two sides have often been closely-fought affairs, with this being their tenth meeting since 2017.
Team News
Captain Saidi Keni is still out with a knee injury and striker Karim Ndugwa will miss the game due to accumulated yellow cards. The rest of the squad is available for selection.
What they said
Coach James Magala
We are playing Mbarara city tomorrow the game will be tough we didn’t have enough time from our previous game against Busoga United to recover but the boys are ohk and we will do our best to win the game.
Hillary Onek
We thank the Almighty for the journey mercies to Mbarara, we are here for a mission and that’s winning our tomorrow’s game the team is in good condition and morale is high. We corrected our mistakes we made in the last game and we are winning tomorrow.
Last time out
March 25, 2022
Busoga United 1-1 BUL FC
The closely contested Jinja derby went to the dawn with scores all square.
Busoga United looked like marching away with all the three points after Isaac Wagoina had given them a first half lead but the Eastern Giants staged an onslaught in the second half, with their efforts paying off one minute from fulltime, thanks to Karim Ndugwa’s goal in the 89th minute.
Head to Head
P9 W3 D3 L3
There has been nine meetings between these sides, and the encounters have produced three wins for BUL, three for Mbarara City and three draws.
Previous Meeting
November 02, 2021
BUL FC 1-0 Mbarara City
We got our third victory of this campaign against the Ankole Lions in Jinja. Ibrahim Nsimbe came off the bench to score the winning goal five minutes off the hour.
The forward dispatched a fine volley past advancing goalkeeper Muhammed Ssekeba off an inviting delivery from the right flank by roving wingback Umar Mukobe. The result put the Eastern Giants to third position on the table.
Last four meetings
November 02, 2021
BUL FC 1-0 Mbarara City
May 9, 2021
BUL FC 1-1 Mbarara City
March 17, 2021
Mbarara City 1-1 BUL FC
February 26, 2020
Mbarara City 1-0 BUL FC
Match Facts
BUL FC has won three matches, drawn five and lost three games away from home, and has scored 18 goals and conceded 19 in those matches.
The Eastern Giants have lost just twice in their past six trips in the league, but their previous league victory on the road was in December last year against Tooro United.
BUL’s three league victories away from Kyabazinga stadium this campaign have been over sides wrestling relegation – Onduparaka, SC Villa and Tooro United, Mbarara City is second from the bottom of the 16 team log, four points from safety.
Isabirye’s side is unbeaten in the last three meetings with the Ankole Lions, won one and drawn two. And the previous slump to Mbarara City happened two years ago, a 1-0 loss at Kakyeka stadium in February 2020.
But BUL is winless in their past four visits to the Ankole Lions. They have lost three and drawn one game, conceded five goals and scored just two at the other end.
Two players only have managed to score for the Eastern Giants when visitors to Mbarara City. Jean Pierre Muhindo found the net in our 2-1 defeat to the Mbarara side in April 2018, and the second is Simon Peter Oketch after he scored in the one all draw in March 2021.
This fixture has produced 17 goals since 2017, and BUL has 10 to their name.
Of the 11 matches at home this term, Mbarara City has wrapped up four wins, five draws and lost just two to collect 17 points from Kakyeka stadium.
The Ankole Lions are unbeaten in their last four home league matches – drawing all of them, with the previous loss in the league at Kakyeka occurring in late December last year to Gaddafi FC.
Two teams only have inflicted defeated to Mbarara City at Kakyeka stadium in the league this campaign- Gaddafi FC and table leaders – Vipers SC.
But they are winless in their past 12 outings, drawn five and lost seven matches. Their last victory was a 3-2 win over Onduparaka in December 2021.
They have also scored just one goal in their past five games, and allowed in five.
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