Villa were docked two points and two goals as punishment for their fans’ shenanigans during their league game against Wakiso Giants.
SC Villa head coach Jackson Magera has revealed that his side would have been champions if they had not lost two points in the boardroom due to fans’ hooliganism.
Villa went into the last day of the Startimes Uganda Premier League season top of the log and only needed to win their game to lift their first title in 19 years.
But a 1-0 loss to URA, coupled with Vipers’ 5-0 demolition of Busoga United, handed the league to the Venoms.
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09:51 - 27.05.2023
LIVE: Vipers SC are the 2022/23 Uganda Premier League Champions.
SC Villa's final collapse gifts Vipers SC the Uganda Premier League Title. The Kitende based side edged Busoga united to win the title on goal difference
And while appearing on NBS Sport Wednesday morning, Magera said that the two points deducted came to bite in the end.
“Those two points cost us the title in the end,” Magera said.
“We had worked for those points; they were not from the particular match that had fans violence,” he added.
Villa were docked two points and two goals as punishment for their fans’ shenanigans during their league game against Wakiso Giants.
On Friday, November 11, at Wankulukuku, Villa’s 2-0 defeat against Wakiso Giants was greeted with fans’ trouble at the final whistle.
Police fired bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds, while Wakiso Giants’ team doctor left the stadium bleeding after being hit with an object on the head.
On top of the deductions, the Club was ordered to host five league games behind closed doors at a neutral venue outside the Central and Eastern region.
The five games were eventually played in Lira.
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Mandela, who was chairman the last time Villa lifted the title has backed the club's young side to make a title charge next season.
“We already had those points in the bag. Two points in the Super League, you rather ask someone to walk to Masaka and back, but leave them with the points,” Magera opined.
“In my opinion, that was the difference.”
The tactician also highlighted the team’s 1-0 home loss to Arua Hill as one of the games that had an impact on their title chase.
“The game against Arua Hill, we did everything but failed to score.”
Eventually, Villa finished third, behind champions Vipers and second-placed KCCA.
The two deducted points would have had Villa on 54 points, one ahead of both Vipers and KCCA.
For now, Villa’s search for a first league title since 2004 will have to stretch to next season.
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