Friday, Sept. 22, 2023
Selected results
NEC 5-0 Busoga United
Kitara 1-0 UPDF
StarTimes Uganda Premier League debutants, NEC, are thoroughly enjoying life two matches into the 2023/24 season.
And if you thought the 1-0 away win over fellow promoted Mbarara City on the opening day was merely a peer’s affair, think again.
The new boys were at it again on Friday, this time dispatching hapless Busoga United 5-0 at their shared home, the MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo.
Marvin Kavuma grabbed a brace, with Rashid Okocha adding a penalty, Busoga’s Steven Odongo scoring an unfortunate own goal, and Brian Kayanja helping himself to the party, too.
The result catapulted them to the top of the league with maximum six points after two matches.
Goals galore
NEC have scored six goals without reply on the way to the summit, their goal difference the reason they sit above the other two perfect starters – Vipers SC and Kirara.
It was a setback for Busoga, who started well with a 1-0 away victory over Arua Hill last week.
They are seventh on three points after two matches.
NEC opened the scoring through Kavuma on eight minutes before Okocha doubled the advantage from the penalty spot on 28 minutes.
It turned worse for the visitors when Odongo had the ball in his own net on 38 minutes.
Kayanja put it beyond any doubt with NEC’s fourth on the stroke of half time.
Busoga put up spirited resistance after the break but Kavuma still found a way to complete his brace and his side’s rout of Busoga on 89 minutes.
More perfection
Elsewhere, another newly promoted team, Kitara, are also enjoying their welcome to the table of men.
Fresh from stunning SC Villa last week, they edged UPDF 1-0 in Masindi to remain among only three teams including NEC and Vipers to win their two opening matches on Friday.
This time it was Christopher Kamagu’s 39th minute own goal that won it for the home side. Not that they cared who the scorer was, really!
Kitara are tied on six points with leaders NEC and Vipers after two games but sit third because of an interior goal difference.