The Uganda Premier League (UPL) Secretariat when the call came in — a last-minute adjustment to the match schedule, prompted by the upcoming CHAN tournament preparations. In a whirlwind of emails, phone calls, and frantic coordination, the league’s organizing body rushed to ensure that Match-Day 15 would go ahead as planned before the extended break. The urgency was palpable, with clubs, players, and fans all eagerly awaiting confirmation of the fixtures. By the end of the day, the UPL Secretariat had made the necessary changes, and the new schedule was set in stone.
In a bid to accommodate the national team’s preparations for CHAN, the UPL Secretariat adjusted the match schedule for Match-Day 15, which is now set to run consecutively on Monday and Tuesday, 6th and 7th January 2025. These fixtures are critical as they mark the final matches before the league enters a brief hiatus, with the competition resuming after the CHAN tournament in March. The adjusted schedule will see some of Uganda’s top clubs, including Vipers SC, SC Villa, and Express FC, battle it out for crucial points, while the stakes for each team are higher than ever before.
This scheduling change comes at a time when the race for the top of the table is intensifying. The fixture adjustments ensure that teams have the opportunity to play all matches before the break, with each match now carrying added significance. As the teams prepare for these back-to-back fixtures, the pressure is mounting. For clubs like Vipers SC, who sit at the top of the table, securing a victory is essential to maintain their position. Meanwhile, teams such as NEC FC will be hoping for a strong performance to close the gap on the leaders before the long break. Every point counts, and this tightly packed schedule leaves little room for error.
As the final whistle blows on Match-Day 15, the UPL will look ahead to its brief interlude, but not before a dramatic conclusion to the first round of fixtures. With the UPL season still in its early stages, there’s a lot of football left to be played. As the saying goes, “It’s not over until the final whistle blows.” The adjustments made by the Secretariat are a reminder of how quickly things can change in the world of sports, and how the smallest tweak can have a major impact on the league’s outcome.
