As the UPL season ends…..

While the final match-day of the last two seasons had a helicopter hovering in the sky with the Uganda Premier League trophy waiting for a signal on which ground it should be taken, after all games were complete, the 2024/25 season, whose curtain comes down this Saturday, May 24 at different grounds, has had an anticlimactic end to it.

This weekend’s crowning day is going to be without the drama, tension and, most importantly, the excitement that drew crowds. The crowds, which waited with bated breath on where the actual home of the league trophy would be after the last kick.

However, even with what the fans may feel has been robbed off them, the season has had a number of talking points.

A CUT ABOVE THE REST

First and foremost, the dominance of the now seven-time champions, Vipers could never have been more louder. For example, there is a big likelihood that they will end the season with 71 points because they are expected to beat Soltilo Bright Stars this weekend in Kitende.

Vipers defending this season has seen them concede only 14 goals, six less than last season. But what is even more interesting, is the fact that when they previously won the league title in the 2022/23 season, it was merely on goal difference.

Together with KCCA FC, they finished the season with 53 points, yet Vipers had six more goals than their bitter rivals. Compare then to now, and the difference is glaring. In May 2023, Vipers finished with only 40 goals.

This time, they have 48, and the possibility of adding a few more is unquestionable. After last season’s dramatic season end that had four teams with a realistic chance to win the league title, this time, only Vipers and NEC were a cut above the rest.

MATCH WINNERS

Among the top 20 top-scorers, beyond Vipers’ Allan Okello, who leads the charts with 18 goals, the Venoms had two other major goal threats in Milton Karisa (9) and Yunus Sentamu (6). That was more than any other team.

In fact, NEC FC has had Paul Mucureezi (9) and Cromwell Rwothomio (8). Ordinarily, Vipers would have had four of 20, but the fourth, Isaac Ogwang was signed in mid-season from Police FC with six goals. He has only scored one goal for Vipers in the league.

Essentially, the match-winners made Vipers’ propensity to win matches a lot higher than the competition.

ASSISTS

In addition, among the top 10 players with most assists, again, Vipers had three in Karim Watambala, Okello and Karisa. Between them, were 13 assists. Only Marvin Kavuma and Mucureezi, with a combined 11 assists were closest. That was a mark of a dynamic midfield and a fluid team.

Within the same prism, KCCA and Villa have nine and eight assists respectively. Needless to say, no team has won more games 1-0 than Vipers (6), a mark of how they found a way out with at least an assist when the going got tough.

CONSISTENCY

Last year’s champions, SC Villa, finished with 57 points. Right behind them was Bul FC and Vipers SC on 56 points, and Kitara FC on 54 points. Evidently, there was a lot of inconsistency last season, although others view it as tough competition in the league.

Perhaps, this season, it was a case of Villa, KCCA Kitara and BUL FC not being competitive enough. In fact, the most points KCCA can end with this season is 50. That will be one more than last season.

Not much progress. But then, last season, they ended with a total of 54 goals. This time, they have 44 goals. The departure of Muhammad Shaban (17 goals last season) affected KCCA significantly.

In turn, Villa, who will finish this season 12 points shy of their last season’s total in the best case scenario, will need soul-searching. To decline so much from first to sixth can only suggest two things: One, their seventeenth title was a fluke, or a result of the competition being poor then, observers argue.

SEASON’S BEST EVENING