SC Villa 0-0 El Merriekh Bentiu
Coastal Union FC 1 – 0 Dekedaha FC
APR FC 1-0 Singida Black Stars
UPL reigning champions SC Villa began their 2024 CECAFA Kagame Cup on Tuesday with a goalless draw against South Sudan’s El Merriekh Bentiu at the Azam Complex, Chamazi.
The Jogoos started life without several of the players that were key in guiding the side to their first title in over 20 years.
Skipper Kenneth Ssemakula, Umar Lutalo, Gavin Kizito and Joseph Kafumbe are the big house hold names in their last season who parted ways with the club recently.
Playing in the 3rd match of the day, the action between Uganda Premier League 2023/24 Champions SC Villa and South Sudan Champs El Merriekh Bentiu end in shared spoils as each team failed to hit the back of the net.
Villa must win win their two coming fixtures against Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars and Rwanda’s APR to enhance their chances of reaching the semi-final.
SC Villa last reached the CECAFA Kagame Cup semi-finals in 2005 in Mwanza, Tanzania.
SC Villa was deservingly declared champions. The blues won everything from the title, golden boot (Mwalala 6 goals), golden gloves (Denis Onyango), best defender (Andrew Mwesigwa) and Coach of the tournament in Sam Timbe.
In the early kick off, Ali Wadi FC beat JKU 1-0. Jebril Mohamed early goal secured a win for Ali Wadi Nyala FC in the first group A match of the ongoing CECAFA at Dar Port.
Elsewhere, Costal Union FC overcame Dekedaha FC in a slim 1-0 win. Mwenda Ramadhan headed in to break the deadlock for Coastal Union.
Meanwhile Victor Mbaoma scored the only important goal for APR FC to win 1-0 against Singida Black Stars.
