By Dismas Nuwaine
The Uganda Christian University (UCU) Cardinals shared the spoils with Nkumba University in their first quarter-final game of the Pepsi University Football League.
Both teams failed to adequately test their respective goalkeepers, resulting in a goalless draw in the intense match.
Samuel David Lukaire, the sports administrator at UCU, wasn’t well pleased by his side’s display yesterday, especially the lack of goals.
“In football, the most important thing is to score. We didn’t score, and next time we have to work tooth and nail to score,” assured Samuel strongly.
Nkumba, as the first hosts, were expected to come up with a few tricks off their sleeves to do a way with the Cardinals’ threat, but all this proved futile as the latter put up a spirited performance to deny the hosts.
The defending champions will be training tirelessly as they in turn host Nkumba University in the return leg of the quarter-final, a game which will prove to be decisive.
The winner of the return leg will automatically advance to the semifinals to hustle it out with the best university teams in the country.
The return leg will be played on Thursday, the 29th of this very month, and it most certainly builds up to be a mouthwatering encounter as the spot in the semifinals is up for grabs.
“We need to maintain a positive attitude and improve on the mistakes we made so as to get the most desired result in the second leg,” said Geoffrey Gaggaga UCU Cardinals captain.
The UCU Cardinals emerged victorious in group A, topping the standings with the likes of Kumi University, Victoria University, and International University of East Africa.
The UCU Cardinals are the defending champions of this showpiece, having last won the last competition that took place in 2019.
The high-flying Cardinals of the past cruised past the 2019 tournament, sweeping off all opponents in their way to salvage the title, defeating St. Lawrence University 2:1 in the heated final.
The tournament was halted for two consecutive years between 2020 and 2021 due to the spontaneous rise and spread of the novel coronavirus.
The 10th edition of the tournament was reinstated this very year with 22 teams confirming their registration, an increase of two from 2019.
