)
Blacks Power FC find themselves in the right mindset as they prepare to host Wakiso Giants FC in Round 32 of the Stanbic Uganda Cup at Akii Bua Memorial Stadium in Lira on Tuesday.
Despite struggling in the Uganda Premier League during the first Round, Blacks Power returned for the second Round a bit energized, edging Bukedea Central 1-0 in Round 64 of the Uganda Cup.
This was before they caused a scare to Uganda Cup champions BUL FC, who are also UPL's second-placed side.
On Friday, the visiting Blacks Power scored first in a league encounter that ended 1-1 at FUFA Technical Center, Njeru.
"The players are well motivated following that big performance against BUL, and we are set to take on Wakiso Giant, which is also not an easy team," Blacks Power head coach Hussein Mbalangu told Pulse Sports.
"Uganda Cup is a competition full of surprises, and after advancing, we realized that we could face a UPL team, and it happened."
"But it is good to face a UPL team because they are familiar, which is not the case with teams from the lower divisions, which in most cases we know nothing about and tend to be very difficult."
On the other hand, Wakiso Giant come into Tuesday's game having lost their last fixture 1-0 at home against KCCA FC in the league on Thursday despite beating Fort Portal Boda Boda 3-1 to reach the Round of 32 of the Uganda Cup.
"We usually focus on a game coming up next, not the previous one. We lost to KCCA in the league, but that is behind us already because this is a different competition," Wakiso Giants head coach John 'Ayala' Luyinda told this website.
"This is a knockout competition, and we always prepare according to the kind of opponent we have been drawn against."
Luyinda added: "Blacks Power is a strong and stubborn team, especially when playing from home. We expect a tough game, but we shall hope to continue our journey in the Uganda Cup at the end of the day."
The only time the two sides have met was in the league, then Wakiso Giants won 2-1 at the Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium in October 2022.
Norman Ojik and Titus Ssematimba scored for the hosts, while Michael Siwu netted the visitors' goal.
Sharif Kimbowa and Moses Aliro will not be available for the Purple Sharks through injury. At the same time, midfielder Haron Odongo and goalkeeper Emmanuel Odongo will require a late fitness test for Blacks Power.
Meanwhile, FUFA Big League side Kitara FC will host Uganda Pentecostal University on the same day. The latter eliminated UPL side URA FC in one of the shocking results in Round 64.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)