Wabomba Sports
Regional League Playoffs- 1st Leg| Sat 17th June 2023
•FT. Bukedea Central F.C 0-5 Mbale Heroes FC. James Otim 14′, Shaka Sozi 25′ (Freekick), Marco Barssey 41′ (freekick), Mark Bamukyaye 50′ (pen) , Patrick Gonahasa 66′ (freekick)
Mbale Heroes FC obliterated helpless Bukedea Central FC 5-0 to all but qualify for 2023-24 FUFA Big League (FBL) season.
Kickoff of the well attended game at Emokori Playground was delayed after rain disorganized the match day arrangements. The makeshift fence that had been set up by the home side was destroyed and fans accessed the pitch freely though the entry fee had been set at 10,000 shillings.
Center referee Mashood Ssali almost awarded a walkover to Mbale Heroes over lack of a temporary fence to separate spectators from the field of play and alleged insufficient security but after along standoff, the game finally kickoff and Mbale Heroes eased past Bukedea Central.
James Otim scored his first Mbale Heroes goal in the 14 minutes to give the visitors a deserved lead. This was followed by 4 set piece goals that included a penalty from Mark Bumakyaye and well taken freekicks from each of Shaka Sozi, Marco Methodius Barssey and Patrick Gonahasa.
Mbale Heroes FC will gain promotion to the FUFA Big League if they avoid a 6-0 defeat in the return leg on Thursday 22nd June 2023 at Mbale Stadium. It will reportedly be Coach Abbey Boger’s last game at Mbale Heroes as draws closer to joining Uganda Premier League side Bul FC.
A shock 5-0 victory for Bukedea Central in the return leg would take the game to penalty shootouts.
For starters, Mbale Heroes were relegated from the from FUFA Big League on 9th June 2021 after suffering a 1-0 home defeat to a Bukedea based side Blacks Power FC (before they relocated to Lira). The current Bukedea Central FC CEO Sam Opio was the CEO of Blacks Power FC that time.
Mbale Heroes missed chance to gain immediate promotion back to FUFA Big League after falling 1-0 to Jinja North United FC in the regional league playoffs last season.
