Vipers Sports Club got the better of Police Football Club in yesterday evening’s top-of-table clash beating the 2005 league champions 3:2 at the prestigious St. Mary’s Stadium Kitende moving top of the log with 18 points.
The Kitende side drew first blood in the 21st minute with Ibrahim Orit calmly converting left-back Disan Galiwango’s inch-perfect cross. Less than five minutes later, Eric Ssenjobe took advantage of clumsy defending in the Vipers box, heading Poice level. In a quick turn-round of events, the on-form Johnson Odongo fed Brian Muluuli who made no mistake passing the ball past Bashir Ssekagya to put Abdallah Mubiru’s side ahead at the break.
A controversial red card for former venom Derrick Ochan in the 40th minute reduced Police to ten men forcing Mubiru to bring in Tom Ikara who made vital saves after the interval but could not stop the man of the match Orit from scoring his second of the day and third of the season putting Vipers level at 2:2. Congolese striker Ceaser Manzoki replaced Muhammad Shaban in the 73rd minute and rewarded manager Fred Kajoba with the winner three minutes later.
Police Football Club Chairman Asan Kasingye did not take the match officials’ lazy decision to award his team’s goalkeeper a red card for handling the ball outside his box lightly as he took to social media to air his disappointment.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police sent out tweets accusing the Kitende club of corruption and match-fixing an allegation that was countered by the club’s Public Relationship Officer Abdu Wasike who challenged the cop to take his grievances to court or FUFA.
“They must. It has even taken them ages to do so. That team must be banned for life. This is a mockery of our time, money & effort in football” read one of the tweets the cop sent out.
Prior to the bout in Kitende, Police had leapfrogged the Venoms into the first position after beating Bull FC by two goals to nil on Tuesday as Vipers shared points with a resilient Kyetume.
Elsewhere Onduparaka trounced Kyetume 3:1 in Arua moving into the third position as Bright stars humbled UPDF 3:0. In Mbarara, both Jinja City and Mbarara City failed to break the deadlock.
Today, Bull hosts Wasswa Bbosa’s Express as URA entertain Wakiso Giants. In the other games, Mike Mutebi’s Kasasiro Boys play new-entrants MYDA as record champions Villa host Kitara.