On Wednesday 1st May, Jerome Kirya of BUL FC became the first player to score a goal in the newly refurbished Mandela National stadium (Namboole) which was opened to the public for the first time since November 2019.
Kirya’s goal saw BUL edge Vipers 1-0 in a potential title decider that had FUFA president Eng. Moses Magogo, NCS Chairman Ambrose Tashobya, General secretary Dr. Bernard Patrick Ogwel, Sports Minister Hon. Peter Ogwang, National team coaches Paul Put and Sheryl Ulanda Botes all in attendance.
His third goal of the Uganda Premier League season (2023/24) came after 27 minutes when he pounced on Alex Kitata’s pinpoint cross for a lowly driven beauty shot on the far post past the dive of Alfred Mudekereza.
The goal orchestrated wild celebrations not just from BUL fans, but also KCCA and SC Villa supporters that were hate watching from the stands and whose two teams later clashed in the day’s final game under floodlights.
This was BUL’s 14th victory in 26 matches, moving them top of the log on 49 points with three matches left to play. They are just a point above Kitara in the second and three betters of the Venoms.
But defending champions Vipers can still go top on goal difference if they manage to win their game in hand.
Later in the other epic Kampala derby, KCCA seized the moment after dispatching Sports Club Villa 2-0 to block their clear sight on the league title.
A second half brace from the eventual Man of the Match Usama Arafat put the Jogoos to the sword, as Herbert Achai and Joel Sserunjogi grabbed the assists, to derail SC Villa’s title ambitions.
