Friday, March 20
•URA Vs Tapoh – 3pm
•Express vs Red Devo – 7pm
(Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo)
URA FC head coach Hussein Mbalangu has warned his side against complacency ahead of their Stanbic Uganda Cup Round of 16 clash against Tapoh FC at Nakivubo on Friday.
The Tax Collectors go into the tie as clear favourites against a third division side from the North Eastern Regional League, but Mbalangu insists his team will treat the game with the seriousness it deserves.
“Uganda Cup is not an easy tournament, it has always produced a couple of upsets,” Mbalangu said.
URA head into the fixture on the back of a disappointing 3-1 league defeat to Express FC at Nakivubo, a result that left them 11th on the table with 22 points. The coach admitted the recent dip in form has increased the team’s desire to bounce back.
“Our form has dipped a little bit as we come into this fixture after defeat to Express in the league, so there is hunger to return to winning ways,” he added.
URA’s journey in the Uganda Cup has not been straightforward. They needed penalty shootouts to eliminate Blacks Power after edging Patongo United 1-0 in earlier rounds.
Mbalangu highlighted the challenge posed by lower division sides, noting that they often come well-prepared.
“These lower ranked teams come here aware of how we play, unlike us, like you saw with Blacks Power,” he explained.
Tapoh FC, based in Ngora District, have been one of the surprise packages of this year’s competition. They knocked out Uganda Premier League side Buhimba United Saints FC before seeing off Mutolere FC to reach the Round of 16.
Despite the difference in league status, Mbalangu believes Tapoh’s cup run proves they are a formidable opponent.
“Tapoh are in the regional league, but having reached this stage means they are a tough side. We shall not take them for granted and we will approach the game with caution, well aware of the threat they can cause,” he said.
URA FC, three-time winners of the Uganda Cup, are still chasing their first title since the 2013/14 season.
