Kampala — HE is the silent but efficient engine that drives SC Villa these days.

Indeed, the story of Villa's season can be told by the statistic that in the last four games they have won, Chrisestom Ntambi has been at the centre of it all with either crucial assists or a goal to match.

Ntambi's five goals so far in the league are only second to club lead striker Emmanuel Okwi.

His boundless technical abilities are what Villa will desperately need to try and dispatch an unpredictable Police side today and move into second place on the table.

Last season, Steven Bengo was the figure that spurred Villa's attacking play. This season, though, the burly midfielder has fared in bits and struggled for fitness.

In fact, his straight red card against Maji two weeks ago explained the youngster's indifferent season so far.

Villa faithful might understandably feel less dejected for the simple reason that Ntambi has proved their main source of inspiration from the heart of midfield.

This state of affairs has seen the 18-year-old play just as big a role in shaping Villa's results.

"He's been very important for us. If he continues performing the way he has done before, we should win this game too," Villa boss Sula Kato stated.

Kato comes up against a resolute Police team struggling to get out of mid-table.

Since assuming the vacant coaching seat at Police, Angelo Lonyesi's philosophy has been to give total freedom of expression to the team's key players, an element that has paid off in fractions.

In terms of running off the ball, the cops have improved 60 per cent. The 2005 champions will need to gather extra mobility especially against a Villa side that covers every blade of the pitch.

* In order to cut travel costs, teams will be grouped according to regions before the Kakungulu Cup draw is made today.

In such a scenario, it will be unlikely for a team from Kasese to play another from Arua in the early stages of the competition. However the arrangement excludes Uganda Super League teams.

"We are looking at cutting the cost of travelling to away matches," said the FUFA Competitions Committee secretary Moses Magogo ahead of the draw for the 49 clubs that have confirmed participation in the knock-out event.

* Express FC have appealed the sh1m fine which the FUFA disciplinary committee slapped on them for violence that led to the abandonment of their match with Bunamwaya in September. They have written to the appeals committee. This is the second time Express appeals against a punishment after an earlier one resulted in a reduction of the fine from sh2m.

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Police v SC Villa

Youfra v Kakira

Maji v Sharing