A lot is at stake on Saturday afternoon when eastern giants Bul pay visit to Soana in one of the five Azam Uganda premier league matches scheduled.
The two clubs meet at a time the nation is mourning the demise of former Uganda cranes goalie Abel Dhaira who lost a cancer battle on Easter Sunday in Iceland.
The late (Dhaira) was a son to Bul assistant/goalkeeping coach Bright Dhaira as well as elder sibling to Soana newly acquired custodian Eric Dhaira (from MUBS).
“Bright has been an instrumental figure to the team (Bul) but that aside, we are also grossly affected by the sad news,” Bul assistant Coach David ‘Kiwa’ Kiwanuka told upl.co.ug after the team’s last training session in Jinja.
“The camp has been moody because most of the players have been his friends. Apart from that he (Bright) introduced me to football those days at Umeme. Abel used to visit me frequently when he reported and so i take him like my son. We have reasons to win tomorrow’s game,” he added.
Likewise, Soana Coach Charles Ayiekho whose side has beaten Bul twice already this season in the league and Cup away from home is optimistic of completing a treble over the visitors.
“We feel bad as a team when one of us loses a special person and it’s the same for my young boy Eric,” he stated. “The team is fine and plan for a win on Saturday. I am sure Bul wants to revenge the two defeats but we want to improve our home record as well as keep our dreams of finishing in the top five alive,” he added.
Team News:
Soana will miss the likes of Francis Olaki and captain Timothy Musinguzi due to injury plus goalie Eric Dhaira (mourning).
For Bul. there are no injury worries although striker Johnson Wakalaita will have to pass a late fitness test.
Head to head
The two sides have met five times in the league, Bul the on the better arm for winning three and a draw. The two sides last met in the league on 3rd October winning 1-0 thanks to Crespo Asiku’s – a former Bul captain and club goals record holder.
03rd Oct 2015- BUL FC 0-1 Soana FC
20th Feb 2015 BUL FC 0-0 Soana FC
21st Nov 14 Soana FC 1-2 BUL FC
28th Mar 14 Soana FC 0-1 BUL FC 0:1
27th Sep 12 BUL FC 4-2 Soana FC