Uganda Premier League
Friday April 25, 2025
Lugazi FC Vs Bright Stars
Lugazi FC Stadium
Kick-off: 4pm
Live on FUFA TV and Sanyuka Prime.
Lugazi FC return to the Lugazi FC Stadium – Najjembe on Friday to take on Soltilo Bright Stars in the Uganda premier league. Kick-off, 4pm.
With six games of the season left to play, the Leaders and Bright Stars are separated by 12 points in 11th and 15th positions respectively.
The Leaders picked up a vital point nine days ago away to Kitara FC thanks to the outstanding show by the lads in Hoima.
Steven Bogere and his men have however blown hot and cold in our inaugural campaign in the topflight having gone unbeaten between mid-October and mid-December – a run that included famous wins over Express and NEC FC.
Unfortunately, two consecutive defeats halted that run. We regrouped and knitted another wave of four wins in the six games that followed.
But since thrashing Mbale Heroes in mid – March, the team is again winless in five league games. However, the recent draws against UPDF and Kitara provide a perfect ground to launch another strong winning run.
As a result of six wins and 10 draws, Lugazi FC currently sit in the 11th place with 28 points from 24 games.
The opposition
Soltilo Bright Stars sit second from the bottom (15th) with three wins, seven draws and 14 defeats this season.
In their past game played last week, they drew 0-0 with Wakiso Giants.
Sports caster, who is also their former sporting director – Ian Mutenda, has been in charge of the team since early November, managing three wins only from 17 games as the head coach.
Their three wins this term have come at the Kavumba recreation grounds, and they remain one of the few sides yet to win an away game this season. Their last two engagements on the road saw them lose heavily to KCCA FC (5-0), and URA FC (4-0).
Head to Head
Lugazi FC and Bright Stars met for the first time at the turn of this year, and drew 1-1 in Wakiso.
Team News
Steven Bogere has center-back Richard Ayiko back in the squad after missing the trip to Hoima through suspension.
Winger Alvin Birungi is also back after missing the Kitara FC game through injury.
However, defender Paul Wasswa is side-lined by an ankle injury suffered in our previous outing.
Forward Sharif Saaka has to serve his one game ban after accumulating three yellow cards, while Sam Ssemugugu is set to miss the clash because of illness.
After our final preparations at Ndoddo training ground, assistant coach – Gerald Efiti confirmed the team news, but he’s confident the Leaders will be able to win the match inspite of the missing of some players.
He said;
“We are well organised, and just ready to go tomorrow but we are missing a few players like Sharif Saaka, Paul Wasswa, and Abdul Kalanzi.”
“However, their absence will not affect us because the rest of the players are ready to play. Here, we don’t train individuals. We train the entire team and everyone is up to the task.”
“Like in the last game, we missed Captain Richard Ayiko and most people thought we would lose to Kitara FC but we managed to get a vital point.”
“In the same vein, Ayiko Richard is back and ready to play. Alvin Birungi has recovered from injury and is also available for selection. We think their timely return will boost the team.”
“We didn’t concede in our previous game and this shows our defending has improved by some degrees. Now what’s left is scoring, and we have been working on that in training. So, I believe we are going to score goals and win the game tomorrow.”
Captain Richard Ayiko said;
“Bright Stars want to move out of the relegation zone but for we want to improve on our league position, and dearly want those three points.”
“The point we got from our previous game motivated us, we need those vital points tomorrow, and I believe we need that game more than they do.”
“We are very fine. The situation in camp is okay and we are very motivated. The training is good and some players like me are back and ready to play.”
Lugazi FC last five results:
April 15, 2025
Kitara FC 0-0 Lugazi FC
April 11, 2025
Lugazi FC 2-2 UPDF FC
April 03, 2025
Vipers SC 1-0 Lugazi FC
March 28, 2025
Lugazi FC 0-1 Maroons
March 18, 2025
Lugazi FC 0-1 SC Villa (Uganda Cup).
Bright Stars FC last five results:
April 15, 2025
Bright Stars 0-0 Wakiso Giants
April 9, 2025
URA FC 4-0 Bright Stars
April 3, 2025
Bright Stars 3-1 Police FC
March 28, 2025
KCCA FC 5-0 Bright Stars
March 14, 2025
Bright Stars 1-3 SC Villa
