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English Onduparaka FC vs Arua Hill SC: Getting to Know the West Nile Derby
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StarTimes Uganda Premier League Match Day 28
Onduparaka FC vs Arua Hill SC
Date: 6 May 2022
Time: 4:00 PM
Venue: Ababet Greenlight Stadium, Arua city
Getting to Know the West Nile Derby
The first official league meeting between the two sides can be traced back to October 2021, with the two sides playing out a goalless draw at Barifa stadium.
Coming into this meeting, Onduparaka FC have won three of their last five StarTimes Uganda Premier League matches, drawing once [at Bul FC] and losing to Vipers SC at home last Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Arua Hill SC approach this derby as the in-form side – the leopards haven’t lost in their last five games, winning twice and registering three draws.
Still, this local affair of Onduparaka FC vs Arua Hill SC has all the trappings of a great rivalry, we envision a terrific game to manager spat and unmatched passion by the twelfth Player. So let’s take a look at the history of the West Nile Derby.
We’ll start, with a brief history of each club.
Onduparaka FC History
Onduparaka FC was founded in 2011. Greenlight Stadium in Onduparaka, a suburb of Arua, is the club’s home ground. The club’s name means ‘sorghum stem’ in the Lugbara language while the motto is: To God be the Glory.
Onduparaka FC earned a promotion to Azam Uganda Premier League (AUPL) at the end of the 2015/2016 season.
At the start of the 2015–16 season, Onduparaka FC appointed Leo Adraa, former South Sudan Men’s National Team Coach as their first Uganda Premier League head coach to replace Allan Kabonge who left after promoting the club to the top-flight league and reaching the Uganda Cup Final.
Leo was later promoted to Technical Director and was replaced by Charles Livingstone Mbabazi as head coach.
At the end of their maiden season, Onduparaka FC was the only UPL team unbeaten at home.
Onduparaka ended their first Azam Uganda Premier League season in 5th place on 45 points. Despite a negative goal difference, Onduparaka managed 11 wins, 12 draws, and 7 losses in 30 games. At the Uganda Premier League Awards on 27 July 2017, Muhammad Shaban was voted the 2016 FUFA MVP (Most Valuable Player) in a year when Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango also performed well and actually won the CAF Best Player in Africa Award and Farouk Miya scored the goal against Comoros that took Uganda to AFCON.
Shaban was also included in the Azam UPL Team of the Year. Meanwhile, Onduparaka FC fans were voted the Best Fans in the same gala at Kampala’s Imperial Royale.
In their second season in the top flight, skipper Shaban and Rashid Toha were sponsored for trials in South Africa but returned in the middle of July 2017.
The season started amidst a transfer request from Shaban who later joined KCCA FC. Shortly, Betway announced a 600 Million Shilling sponsorship package for Onduparaka’s transport and player welfare.
Not long after, MTN Uganda also announced a one-year 390 Million UgX sponsorship deal with the club during a press conference at Desert Breeze Hotel Arua.
On 10 March 2018, Onduparaka FC lost their first-ever home match in the Uganda Premier League. The Caterpillars were narrow 1-0 losers to record champions SC Villa.
After the match, Ondu fans accused Head Coach Mbabazi and some players of not giving their all for the team leading to his departure.
Well, this club has since continued a rollercoaster in the top flight league, enduring storms that could have weathered it away; now over ten years and still counting.
Arua Hill SC History
Arua Hill SC was founded in 2005 as Doves FC by Bosco Onama, and its name was changed to the current one in 2020 after Aita Joel bought 100 percent shares in the club.
In 2016, Doves All Stars earned a promotion to the StarTimes FUFA Big League after beating Koboko Rising Stars 2-1 in the West Nile Regional League Playoffs.
2018 saw another rebranding from Doves All Stars to Azizi Damani Doves All Stars after a takeover by Challa Siva Koti and partners.
Challa the General Manager of Gittoe Pharmaceuticals who took charge renamed the club after Aziz Damani, the founder of the pharmacy.
The first test
Rebranded Arua Hill SC kickstarted the 2020/2021 FUFA Big League season with a 3-1 victory over Blacks Power FC at Barifa Playground; Paddy Muhumuza, Caesar Okhuti, and Emmanuel Mutebi were on target.
After a resounding season with a foot already in the UPL, Arua Hill needed only a point in the final game to qualify without any goal difference disputes. Gadafi Gadinho, Kawawa Rashid (brace), and skipper Caeser Okhuti granted the leopards a deserved 4-0 victory over relegated Paidha Black Angels.
This result left Arua Hill top of Elgon Group and automatically earned a promotion to UPL on 13 June 2021.
On 17 August 2021, Arua Hill SC were crowned champions of the StarTimes FUFA Big League after overcoming Rwenzori Group winners Tooro United FC. Rashid Kawawa scored the only goal in the 25th-minute. Custodian Richard Anyama won the Goalkeeper of the Season award after keeping 9 clean sheets in 13 games.
The season also ended with the retirement of Okhuti from active football.
Onduparaka FC vs Arua Hill SC Results History
The two sides have only met once in all competitions. Currently, Onduparaka sits 8th on the StarTimes Uganda Premier League table, while Arua Hill SC are 5th on the log.
In their last five matches, Onduparaka FC have won 3, drawn 1, and lost once, collecting 10 points in the process [have 34 points]. Meanwhile, Arua Hill SC have won twice and drawn 3 times, picking up 9 points in the last five games [have 46 points].
Onduparaka were deducted 2 points by FUFA after an encounter with KCCA FC at Greenlight stadium was prematurely brought to an end by Referee Ronald Madanda. Onduparaka fans had invaded the pitch to protest Madada’s decision to award KCCA a late penalty with the score 2-2.
Onduparaka FC have won 6 home games out of 27 games this season. Meanwhile, Arua Hill SC have only won 3 away matches in 27 games.
Muhammad Shaban vs Alfred Leku
Since rejoining Onduparaka FC, Muhammad Shaban has since rejuvenated his career, arguably the best domestic forward in the country right now. The skipper has netted 15 Goals with three games left until the end of the season; only Congolese-turned-Central African Republic forward Cesar Manzooki (17 goals) has more goals than him.
Arua Hill SC top scorer Alfred Leku (11 goals) is enjoying himself under Manager Livingstone Mbabazi. The striker has kept a close consistency-earning Cranes coach Micho’s trust in the process.
How can I watch Onduparaka FC v Arua Hill SC on TV?
The West Nile Derby will be played at Ababet Greenlight Stadium on Friday 6 March, with kick-off scheduled for 04:00 PM. The match will be broadcast live on Sanyuka TV.
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