UGANDAN, FOOTBALL – Tapoh FC secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over SC Volcanoes in a Round of 32 encounter that had everything, passion, drama, and a generous helping of controversy, to book their place in the next stage of the Stanbic Uganda Cup.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Played in a highly charged atmosphere, the match was decided by a solitary first-half strike, though the final whistle merely punctuated an afternoon filled with red card drama, crowd disturbances, and a bizarre incident involving the match ball.
Tapoh FC’s high-energy approach paid off in the 20th minute when they found the back of the net to take the lead. Despite the goal coming against the run of play, it proved to be the decisive score, and they carried the slender 1-0 advantage into the halftime break.
The second half painted a different picture, as SC Volcanoes, who arrived at the fixture unbeaten and sitting pretty at the summit of the Western Region League, shook off their first-half lethargy. They began to dominate possession and lay siege to the Tapoh goal.
The attacking duo of Lukyamuzi Julius and Babuji caused constant problems for the home defense, while midfield orchestrator Mandela Alex pulled the strings, dictating the tempo in an effort to carve open a resilient Tapoh backline.
Despite the relentless pressure from the Kisoro-based side, Tapoh held firm, absorbing wave after wave of attack to preserve their precious lead.
The match’s smooth flow was disrupted midway through the second half by a bizarre incident when a Tapoh supporter grabbed SC Volcanoes’ match ball after it had gone out of play and made a dash toward a nearby bush.
Members of the Volcanoes technical team and club officials gave chase but reportedly aborted their pursuit amidst claims that another individual lurking in the bushes was allegedly armed.
The incident injected a dose of farce and heightened the existing tension. Drama continued to unfold on the pitch in the 70th minute when SC Volcanoes’ hopes of a comeback were dealt a severe blow.
One of their players was shown a straight red card for a heavy challenge. The decision sparked furious protests from the Volcanoes bench, with head coach Patrick Ochan vehemently questioning the consistency and fairness of the officiating.
The red card also incensed sections of the home crowd, who responded with jeers and whistles. As the situation threatened to boil over, FUFA officials on duty intervened to restore calm to the volatile environment.
In the aftermath, FUFA National Assessor Ochom Joseph moved to clarify the confusion surrounding the match balls. He confirmed that the home team had provided the required match balls before kickoff as per regulations.
However, SC Volcanoes had requested to use their own ball, which was never formally handed over to or approved by the match officials as part of the equipment list.
“The officials informed the away team that if the ball was not officially submitted before play, responsibility for any loss could not lie with the match authorities,” Ochom explained.
Volcanoes’ Coach Patrick Ochan, while visibly frustrated with the result and what he termed inconsistent officiating and questionable match management regarding security, reaffirmed his side’s primary objective.
“The result does not reflect the events on the pitch. We had concerns over the ball incident and the security arrangements. But our main goal remains clear: securing promotion to the FUFA Big League,” Ochan said.
SC Volcanoes entered this tie having won all their league matches this season, boasting a staggering goal difference after scoring 27 goals and conceding just once.
They had also previously eliminated Uganda Premier League side Wakiso Giants FC in the tournament, proving their giant-killing credentials.
Tapoh FC head coach Tingole Brian was gracious in victory, praising SC Volcanoes as one of the toughest opponents his side has faced and calling the win a “God-given chance.”
Tapoh FC, who knocked out Buhimba Saints in the previous round, will now look ahead to the Round of 16, having navigated one of the most tumultuous ties of the competition so far.
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