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German Westnile Derby looming in Arua
Westnile Derby looming in Arua
Arua Hill SC commonly known by their slogan “Ama Kongolo” earned promotion into the Startimes Uganda Premier League after beating fellow Westnile side Paidha Black Angels 4-0. Midfielder Gadafi Gadinho opened the scoring in the 7′ minute from right-back Yakin’s cross. Kawawa Rashid added in the second from a Baden cross. Team captain Ceaser Okhuti scored the third before Rashid Kawawa completed his brace.
The ‘Barifa’ side becomes the second team to join the top tier of Ugandan Football after Onduparaka Football Club in 2016, setting the ground for a fierce Westnile derby after that between Onduparaka FC, Doves All Stars and Paidha Black Angels.
Westnile has not had so many derbies at the highest level of Ugandan football for so many years until the rise of Doves All Stars (now Arua Hill SC) and Paidha Black Angels. The local derbies never sounded a big deal. However after the promotion of Onduparaka to the Big League in the 2015/16 season, Westnile received a bigger derby between two sides that are closer to each other which amplified the moods before the derby match days.
However, the ‘caterpillars’ rendered the derby useless after spending just one year in the Big League, earning promotion to the Uganda Premier League the following season. The Arua side also ended the season as finalists in the Uganda cup, losing 3-1 to ‘kitende’ based side Vipers SC.
The ‘Green army’ enjoyed a brilliant first season in the Premier League as the only Westnile team in the top flight league. They had all the support fan base and material wise.
The new dawn
Now that Arua Hill SC has earned automatic qualification into the Startimes Uganda Premier League, a new era in Westnile derby has set in. Onduparaka FC and Arua Hill SC will provide the people of Westnile with a new home-derby to look upto come 2021/2022 season if Onduparaka survive the current scare of the looming relegation.
The ‘caterpillars’ have three games to achieve their Premier League survival, starting with an away fixture against Vipers SC on Saturday 19 June, they welcome UPDF FC at home on Wednesday 30 June before ending the season at Kyetume FC on Saturday 26 June.
Westnilers will be hoping that Onduparaka will maintain their stay in the Uganda Premier League in order to be able to enjoy the first Westnile derby in the Premier League.
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