SC Villa is set miss the services of Elvis Ngonde, Reagan Mpande and Diego Missi Semugera as they visit rivals Express at the Hamz Nakivubo stadium this Thursday, 8th Janaury, 2026 with the trio sidelined with injuries.
Defender cum midfielder David Owori is available for selection having missed Villa’s last game against Calvary last month due to National team engagements.
Away from injured Lawrence Bukenya, Express could have the whole squad available for selection. Muhammad Kagawa is also part of the squad despite having had trials with Rayon Sports in Rwanda.
However, reports indicate that Express FC has skipped several training sessions due to lack of facilitation and some players have threatened a no show for the game while the fans leadership also declared a matchday boycott until the club leadership meets them.
“We have asked as fans to meet the club leadership several times in vain. I think a boycott is the language they will listen to. Not only the SC Villa game, but the enitre season; Express FC fans will not watch the games untill the club leadrship listens and meets us,” Julius Bakunda, the Express FC fans’ chairman told this website.
“The club is in its worst state. Players have gone over five months without pay, no matchday or training allowances. There is talk of matchfixing in the club allegedly championed by the leaders of the club. We want to put these issues on table for clarity. Otherwise the club is bound to get relegated and eventually get defunct,” he added.
However, head coach Jimmy Kintu rallied fans to come and back their team.
“This fixture is historic and determines a lot at both clubs. I ask the fans to come and support the team despite the fact that there are certain things that should be rectified. It is not good not to have fans in the stadium especially in a derby fixture,” noted Kintu Jimmy, the Express FC head coach.
“We resumed training late due to some inhouse issues but the players who are available in camp are determined to fight for the badge,” he added.
Assistant coach Richard Malinga is rumored to have resigned while players Richard Basangwa and youngster Hakim Wandera are said to have joined NEC FC on two-year deals.
SC Villa, in fourth with 24 points, can replace KCCA in second with a win, and it’s a game they are expected to go all out against a struggling Express side.
Coached by Jimmy Kintu, the Red Eagles are 11th with 12 points after 11 games.
Express lost back to back games against Maroons and Entebbe UPPC before the league took a break for AFCON while Jogoos beat Calvary in their last league outing.
Joseph Zziwa scored the only goal as Express edged SC Villa at the Hamz Nakivubo stadium last season.
