Moses Magogo, the Uganda Super League (USL) secretary has often times been branded a very fishy man by some football club officials on the way he runs the league.
He has in turn brushed all that talk aside as malicious; and that most of his critics do not like strict and professional administrators who follow the rules to the latter. But on second thought, may be his critics are not far off the mark in suggesting that Magogo always has something up his sleeve in making the league fixtures.

Interestingly, as the Super League season gets into the final bend, tagged in a three-horse race between URA, Villa and KCC in that order, it has been noted with keenness that the games these teams are left to play provide no easier run-in for either of them.
To put it more overtly, these teams are all going to play opponents that occupy the top eight positions predominantly. Yesterday, KCC just drew 2-2 with Police, another giant that finished third last season and was champion in 2005. Police are seventh on the table now.
URA beat Nalubaale who are sixth on the table 2-1 on April 18 at Namboole Stadium. But tomorrow April 24, URA makes that daunting trip to Simba soccer club’s home in Bombo. Simba are fifth on the table and have made it a habit to rise to the occasion against the traditional giants this season while at home. In fact they beat KCC 2-1 and Express 3-0 earlier in the season and for a month led the Super League table.

Before I forget, SC Villa actually had to grind out a 1-0 victory against Victors football Club at Namboole on Sunday April 19. Although the table does not lie, Victors is too good to be in ninth position. They even lost yesterday April 22, 1-0 to Express at Wankulukuku Stadium. But having won the Kakungulu Cup last season 2007/2008 and just been in the CAF Confederations Cup where Zimbabwe’s Caps United beat them 3-0 on aggregate, they were also viewed before the beginning of this season as having the potential to challenge for the League title.
On the other hand, Nalubaale was not favoured to be in the title hunt but they have surprised many. They have not been far off the top. Lying in sixth position on the table, Villa head there on April 24 well aware of the task ahead of them at the Buikwe ground where they won 2-1 last season courtesy of Jeremiah Ssebuyiira and Oscar Kadenge strikes.    

Such a fixture setting makes for a mouth-watering climax to the league; a photo-finish I must add. This is rather unusual in most leagues around the world and appears to have been pre-determined. And Magogo, who is normally candid is not about to deny that.
“True, the final fixtures of the Super League, as viewed are not a coincidence nor are they that way by luck. We predetermined it in order to have all teams fighting until the end. It would not make sense to have a giant playing the weaker teams. Some would be almost relegated and this would provide an opportunity for match-fixing and cricket scores,” says Magogo.
Magogo adds that this has been the work-plan of FUFA all along- to have teams win the Cup on merit and the hard way. “This normally gets us worthy champions because teams pass through a furnace before they are winners,” Magogo reasons.

Previously, Magogo adds, some of the title hunting teams would have an easy run-in. “They would have fixtures against the small teams that are already relegation bound. In the end, they would find it easy to buy them off and get the goals they wanted,” says Magogo.
As a result of that, this kind of competitive finish has not only been pre-set to include teams that are fighting for the Super League Championships. Actually it has encircled even the teams that are swimming in dangerous waters- relegation zone.
Come to think of it, the term relegation zone sounds good. It would not do badly for those looking for what to name their bars. But this is a term that is giving certain clubs like Sharing FC and Iganga sleepless nights.

But looking back at the fixtures, it is really show time at the tail-end. Magogo says that while the top teams will be battling for bragging rights against their once nearest challengers, those that occupy the second side of the table, are in for a squeaky bum time too. In that case, the relegation dog-fight will be at its peak, as those under threat will be playing each other too.
Playing against a team of similar stature boosts helps the small teams not to be overwhelmed like would be the case when a minnow is playing against a giant. The final fixtures between now and May 31 show that the five bottom teams, favourite to be axed are going to play each other.
“With such a case scenario, each of these teams feels that it stands a chance to collect points against a team with whom they lie in the same region,” says Magogo. That definitely implies that with little respect for an opponent because of the share equal status, all teams will be impelled to go for a kill.

For example, a team like Bugerere has to play Sharing, Iganga, Mbarara and Kakira. All these are within the relegation danger or there about. YOUFRA has to play Mbarara, Kakira, Boro-Boro and Bugerere.   
He adds, “They’ll therefore be inspired to treat each game as a potential three points necessary for their survival. As such, they’ll give it their all unlike when they play against more established teams and therefore go into games expecting the worst.”
Notably, the three title favourites have to play Simba, Bunamwaya, Express, Police, Victors and Nalubaale besides each other in their last five games. This, Magogo, calls the crunch test for all apart from an already relegated Kakira.
However, even last season, KCC had to play Victors, Simba, Villa, Police and Bunamwaya in succession before they won the Super League. Villa in turn also played Victors, KCC, Simba and Police in the final rounds. In the 2006/2007 season when URA won the league, they played Police, KCC, Express and Villa amongst the last six games and their resolute earned them vital points even though Villa was breathing down their necks.
On the back of that, Magogo’s suspected fishiness may this time be taken in a good light.