The semifinals first leg have settled in the hands of travelling teams, with Ssingo and Kyaggwe picking reasonable 2-1 and 1-0 wins off Bugerere and Buweekula respectively.
At Ntenjeru Ssaza Grounds, visitor Ssingo fought from a goal down to win 2-1. Captain Shaban Kayongo equalized in the 40th minute to cancel out Henry Wamala’s early strike.
At 1-1, Bugerere got the first chance to regain the lead, but Ssingo goalkeeper Joel Byamukama denied Osman Mayanja from the spot before midfielder Ismail Lwamitala grabbed a winner for Ssingo.
The win on the road on Sunday, October 12, has put two-time champion Ssingo close to the Masaza Cup final for the first time since 2018, when they won their last trophy.
With Ssingo aiming to make history by becoming the team to play in both the last final and the returning final to Nakivubo after 12 years, they are tasked with accomplishing the mission on Sunday, October 19, at Mityana Ssaza ground.
Heading into the return leg, Bugerere Assistant Coach Rogers Ken showed nerves about the possibilities of overturning the score, “Today we have been unlucky, we failed to take off our chance, and they did it, we missed a penalty with one of our best players, but it isn’t over yet. They have won against us at our home, and we can beat them at their home.”
Meanwhile, Ssingo head coach Bashir Bastu Ssemuyaba joyfully stated, “I am happy that the boys have executed our game plan to get the first win, but we still have a task ahead. We remain focused because our people want the trophy, and to win a trophy, you have to first reach the final.”
On the other hand, Kyaggwe also has a step towards Nakivubo, ahead of Buweekula, whom they beat 1-0 at Mubende NTC on Sunday, October 12.
Workaholic midfielder Geofrey Ssenyonga scored the very important goal, putting Kyaggwe in a commanding role to pull an immediate return to Masaza Cup final ahead of the Semifinal second leg on October 19 at Mukono Bishops.
