StarTimes Uganda Premier League
Saturday
KCCA vs Vipers SC, StarTimes Stadium-Lugogo (3:00 pm) live on Sanyuka TV
BUL vs Proline, Bugembe Stadium-Jinja (4:00pm )
Maroons vs Wakiso Giants, FUFA Technical Centre-Njeru (4:00pm)
Tooro United vs Express, St. Paul’s Seminary Playground-Fort Portal (4:00pm)
Two of the best domestic super powers KCCA and Vipers SC clash this Saturday afternoon at the StarTimes stadium, Lugogo in one of the match day 15 fixtures of the StarTimes Uganda premier league.
It is not safe to predict the winner as both sides that boast of 16 titles in between them cannot be separated on paper but football lovers are braced for the closely fought match.
Unbeaten three-time champions Vipers SC visit the 13-time champions KCCA seeking to consolidate lead while the defending champions want to better their standings from 5th and keep the chase for 2019/20 title.
The two giants that are currently separated by 14 points played to stalemates in both legs last season with the corresponding fixture ending 1-1 as KCCA maintained a 4 point lead then before they eventually went on to lift their 13th league title.
Brian Nkubi gave the Venons lead but Mike Mutyaba finished off Allan Okello’s brilliant pass for the equalizer. Both teams miss their captains and other very important players who are at the national team –preparing to play Malawi this Sunday at Namboole in the second game of the AFCON 2021 group B qualifiers following an opening barren draw away at Burkina Faso.
Vipers, who come off a toiled 1-0 home win at URA courtesy of Dan Sserunkuma goal, miss skipper Halid Lwaliwa and forward Fahad Bayo, who is the joint league top scorer with 8 goals alongside Ben Ocen of Uganda Police.
First choice goal keeper Fabien Mutombora is away for national duty in Burundi while Bobosi Byaruhanga, Ahmed Amayo and Karim Watambala are sitting their final UACE exams but Frank Zaga Tumwesigye returns after missing four games due to sickness.
KCCA, who come off a 3-1 away win at Express courtesy of Sadat Anaku, Mike Mutyaba and Mohamed Yiga (OG), also miss goal keeper and Captain Charles Lukwago, playmaker Allan Okello and central midfielder Nicolas Kasozi.
Julius Poloto, Hassan Jurua and Sadam Juma are out injured while Erisa Sekisambu, Mike Mutyaba, Sam Ssenyonjo and Kezironi Kizito are ready to face former employers. Vipers’ previous visit at the match venue last month came with a 3-1 win at Police and now face a side they beat 2-0 in the preseason Pilsner super 8 final to lift the title courtesy of Fahad Bayo debut brace.
The visitors have scored in all the last 3 visits against KCCA and hope to maintain their 16-match unbeaten record since losing at 2-1 at home to URA last season.
The Kasasiro boys have not lost at home this season –with their only two losses against Tooro United and BUL FC coming on the road. The side that has only drawn against Bright Stars at home, lost once (2-1 loss to URA) last season and manager Mike Mutebi will hope to improve on his unimpressive record against the Visitors.
Mutebi has masterminded only 1 win against the Venoms; losing 3 and drawing 4 out of the 8 meetings under his reign. Vipers have registered 10 wins and 3 draws out of the 13 matches played while KCCA.
Following a decent showing against URA after having fallen down in the pecking order, Tito Okello could return to face his former bosses whilst Derrick Ochan is expected to keep his place in goal. Vipers Coach Edward Golola Golola promised a good show in what he called a special atmosphere at Lugogo.
“It’s one of these special games, one of these fixtures where your position on the table doesn’t matter. We have been working hard since the season started and we can’t stop now. It is the players’ confidence and mentality that matters at this moment. The team is in good shape and well motivated,” said, Golola, who was crowned the coach of the month of October.
KCCA has won three, drawn 3 and lost 3 in the last home games against Vipers. In total, the two sides have met 19 times with KCCA wining 5, losing 9 and drawing 5 times. KCCA Coach Mike Mutebi knows that they face an emerging force but have to win.
“We must show that we are the defending champions. We are not worried of who is unavailable because the rest of the players can put up a good performance for the fans,” he said.
