- Simba 3-2 Mbale Heroes
Buganda Regional side Simba Football Club has progressed to the 51st Stanbic Uganda Cup round of 32 at the expense of a top flight side, Mbale Heroes.
This followed a hard-fought 3-2 home over Mbale Heroes, winners of this competition in 1999.
Edgar Katumba scored both of Mbale Heroes’ goals at the Namulonge playground in Gayaza on Sunday, 19th January 2025.
Simba scored through Patrick Oyet, Umar Kayemba and Kenneth Ssebaduka.
Katumba gave the visitors the lead on 28 minutes. Oyet equalized 12 minutes later as the first half ended all square 1-goal apiece.
Mbale Heroes restored their lead three minutes unto restart of play for the final stanza through Katumba once again.
Kayemba brought the game level with a 51st minute goal before Ssebaduka grabbed the winner with 26 minutes left on the clock to give Alex Gitta a memorable victory in charge of Simba.
The defeat was Baker Mbowa’s first since he took over the Mbale Heroes head coach role.
Simba joins another regional side, CATDA from Kampala and West Nile’s Pakwach Young Stars among the third division clubs at this level.
CATDA Football Club stopped Mawokota United 3-0 in Buwama with forward Baker Buyala scoring a brace and Michael Abura, the other.
Pakwach Young Stars ejected Big League entity Kigezi Home Boyz 3-0.
Elsewhere; Police ejected Karadali 1-0 in Otuke district. Daniel Jakony scored the all-important goal with 20 minutes to play.
Mbarara City out-shot Junior Eagles from Soroty 5-3 in post-match penalties after normal time had ended goal-less.
Qualified to the round of 32:
Now, Simba joins Mbarara City, Police, CATDA, Lugazi Football Club, Wakiso Giants, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), Maroons, Soltilo Bright Stars, Gaddafi, Current Stanbic Uganda Cup holders Kitara, last year’s losing finalists NEC, Express, BUL, Vipers and Pakwach Young Stars at the round of 32.
Onduparaka failed to travel to Bushenyi for their contest against Bushenyi Veterans whilst Blacks Power reported to Soroti for their match with Soroti Thunders who turned up at another venue.
As it stands, Bushenyi Veterans and Blacks Power could also book their berths to the round of 32 via boardroom decisions.
The round of 64 continues on Sunday, 19th January 2024 as Buganda regional entity Simba entertains UPL side Mbale Heroes at Namulonge playground in Gayaza.
The winner of the Stanbic Uganda Cup qualifies to represent the country at the CAF Confederation Cup.
