Roxberry have sent a chilling warning to their title rivals after becoming the first team in Uganda’s pool league history to register a 20-0 victory, a result that propelled the defending champions to the top of the Nile Special National Pool League.
Roxberry dismantled Corporate Shooters on Sunday to move to 35 points, two ahead of second-placed Scrap Buyers, setting up a mouthwatering encounter between the leading sides in Mbale this weekend.
The two teams will be in action at Oak Bar alongside Greater Mukono and in-form Adi’s Spot, with Roxberry seeking to consolidate their advantage in an increasingly competitive title race.
Fielding Simon Lubuulwa, Ian Kazibwe, Ibra Ssejjemba, Joseph Kasozi and Arnold Ssemukwano in their starting line-up, Roxberry overwhelmed their opponents through consistency rather than break-and-finish victories. Teenage sensation Herbert Mukisa and Robert Tumusiime featured in the second half.
Ssejjemba, Kasozi and Ssemukwano each won all four of their games. Kazibwe and Lubuulwa also maintained perfect records before being replaced.
‘The target was to win our games, and we went in focused on doing that. Our opponents made it easier because things were not working for them, but we still had to take our chances and get the points,’ Ssejjemba said.
Corporate Shooters captain Gregory Ogeni admitted his team had struggled.
‘It wasn’t our day. Nothing went our way. The table’s pots were tight, but we also failed to win games we should have won. It was bad to lose that way, but in sport, we move on to the next match,’ Ogeni said.
Greater Mukono struggle
Greater Mukono, fourth in their debut season last year, have slipped to sixth as a revamped squad struggles to find its rhythm.
They lost 11-9 to Wakiso City after trailing 6-4 at half-time, with Osman Kisubi and Jacob Muwanguzi helping Wakiso secure the victory.
Captain Najib Matovu believes the team can recover.
‘We have a new-look squad, but these are good players and they need to catch up with the pace of the league,’ he said.
Matovu, Allan Kayiwa and Farouk Kagumya are among the retained players, while Musa Muloba, Julius Ssemanda and Willy Yiga joined this season.
Greater Mukono subsequently beat Nakawa 15-5, but Nakawa remain among the league’s weakest sides after also losing 16-4 to Wakiso City.
There are also cracks in the Upper Volta side that finished second last season after losing 11-9 to Adi’s Spot without star player Caesar Chandiga and Mansoor Bwanika.
Mukono Ladies lead
Mukono remain unbeaten in the ladies’ league after four wins and a draw. Samona are second on 13 points, while Akaanya are third on 12. Genesis remain bottom without a win.
Roxberry’s Kasozi leads the men’s scoring charts with 38 goals and six A’s, matching Scrap Buyers’ Ibrahim Kayanja and teammates Kazibwe and Lubuulwa. Ssejjemba and Glorious Ssenyonjo have five A’s each.
In the ladies’ category, Rashida Mutesi, the only player with a break and finish (two), leads the scoring charts with 17 goals.