StarTimes Uganda premier league
Tuesday, 4pm
Vipers SC vs SC Villa, Kitende
Onduparaka vs Kirinya Jinja SSS, Arua
Bright Stars vs KCCA, Mwererwe
Tooro United vs Paidha Black Angels, Buhinga
Police vs Ndejje University, Lugogo
Sunday
BUL vs Express, Njeru
SC Villa are out to bring an end to Vipers unbeaten run as the two sides face off in a rivalry premier league tie this Saturday at St Mary’s stadium, Kitende. The visitors are coming off a controversial 1-1 home draw at Bright Stars on Wednesday at Namboole stadium whereas the hosts were 1-0 away winners at struggling Nyamityobora in Mbarara and eager to build on that result as they look to keep tabs on leaders KCCA FC. But, the Michael Ouma side faces a serious test in the form of wounded Jogoos, who have not won since their 4-1 home win at Lugazi Municipal in December last year during this season’s Stanbic Uganda Cup round of 64 tie. They have recorded 3 draws and 2 league losses as well getting ejected by lower division side Nkambi Coffee at the Stanbic Uganda Cup round of 32 after a shameful 2-0 loss. With no point from the opening two second round fixtures even after 13 new mid season additions, Villa coach Douglas Bamweyana faces immense pressure to deliver against a side that won the reverse fixture 3-1 at Namboole stadium in last October. John Adriko returned to training while Charles Lwanga has served out his suspension after his red card against Police, and thus, Bamweyana has a full squad at disposal. “We need to be clinical and also act on our defense. We miss a lot of goal scoring opportunities that could kill off the game,” Bamweyana noted after the Bright Stars 1-1 stalemate last time out. Vipers have been boosted by the return of defender Bashir Asiku from injury and could make his 9th appearance of the season. Skipper Tadeo Lwanga is expected to return to the starting XI after being rested on Tuesday while defender Ibrahim Kiyemba serves his second game out after seeing red against Kirinya Jinja SSS. “We are working hard as we prepare for a team with rich history in Uganda. We respect them but we are ready,” noted Vipers’ Ouma. With goals expected, Vipers will look up to club’s lead striker Dan Sserunkuma who has scored 9 goals so far while Villa rest their hopes in current league top scorer Bashir Mutanda (11), who faces a side he left last season. Vipers completed a double over the Villa Park side last season. With the intensity of the match, high security measures have been put in place to ensure no fans hooliganism. In 2018, there was hooliganism at Kitende as the two sides faced off which prompted Vipers management to ban some of the Villa fans from accessing St Mary’s stadium indefinitely. Vipers accused Villa fans of vandalising the stadium, stoning their coach (Miguel Da Costa) and also attack on match officials led by center referee Alex Muhabi. However, the Jogoos have never rested their hearts –as they vowed to snub today’s fixture in protest of the ban.
