Ruthless Viane Ssekajugo managed to bag a haul on a special Tuesday evening at the Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium, against his former team, Wakiso Giants, to impressively extend URA FC’s resurgence with a two-game winning streak.
The fact that George Kaddu for the Purple Sharks received marching orders following a second bookable offence was not sufficient enough to steal the headlines from Ssekajugo who was already counting a hattrick by the time the incident happened.
Even Kabon Living’s mouthwatering efforts after coming on as a substitute to put the icing on the cake with the fifth goal in the 88th minute on the evening proved to have no bearing to the destiny that the four-goal merchant was to be the Man-of-the-Match.
Sam Timbe named the same starting line-up as it was at the Arena of Visions, Ndejje University against Gadaffi. All with a clear aim of extending the winning streak.
Ssekajugo’s rampage commenced as early as the second minute of the game when he exhibited a lot of composure and pure striker instincts to redirect Steven Mukwala’s brushed effort into the back of Samson Kirya’s goal.
The pin-point forward clearly established himself as the difference and would have doubled the lead in the 20th minute, only for the opposition custodian to prove equal to the effort. Najib Fesali would be replaced by Faruku Katongole following an injury.
As Ssekajugo was busy exhibiting his offensive prowess, Nafian Alionzi was also providing equal to the challenge in goal. It was this same adrenaline that motivated the former to push further for a second goal and get it he did.
The massively endowed forward yet again, ferociously smashed the ball in the top right corner of the net in the 42nd minute, after controlling a stray shot from Shafik Kagimu. A strike that could have asked a lot of the goalkeeper in the event that he had seen it.
He would complete his hat-trick one minute after the hour mark when he capitalized on the recklessness of Kaddu in possession and got the visitors a 3-0 advantage. As if that was not enough, the beast in him struck again for a fourth, heading home Saidi Kyeyune’s corner in the 81st minute.
By the time he was taken off for Kabon Living, the fans couldn’t hold their rupture and cheers, and who was to say they weren’t well deserved. In fact, even the opposition fans gave him a standing ovation.
Kabon ,on the other hand, proved sharp even in the 88th minute to capitalize on the opposition’s defensive mistakes and picked Moses Aliro’s pockets to fire the ball in the back of the net. The five goals accounted for a five-star performance.
Alionzi’s outstanding performance on the evening was something to also write home about, especially in absorbing pressure and keeping out an effort from Moses Aliro and a wonderful freekick from Joshua Lubwama. He kept a clean sheet.
Ssekajugo’s return to Wakissha has however been a homecoming like no other, scoring four to take his league tally to six goals. This has also helped maintain URA in third position with 34 points.
The Tax Collectors will be in action on Saturday, February 26th in a Stanbic Uganda Cup encounter against Mbarara City away in Kakyeka Stadium, Mbarara.
Team Lineups
Nafian Alionzi (GK), Ashraf Mandela, Patrick Paul Mbowa, Hudu Mulikyi, Najib Fesali, Ivan Sserubiri, Viane Ssekajugo, Saidi Kyeyune, Steven Desse Mukwala, Moses Sseruyidde, and Shafik Kagimu.