StarTimes Uganda premier league
Friday fixtures
Vipers SC vs SC Villa, Kitende
Police vs Kyetume, Lugogo
KCCA vs Tooro United, Lugogo
Saturday
Busoga United vs Mbarara City, Jinja
URA vs Bright stars, Luwero
Express vs Proline, Kavumba
Maroons vs BUL, Luzira
Sunday
Wakiso Giants vs Onduparaka, Wakiso
Vipers SC 4-2 victory against Proline on Tuesday was their 13th in 17 games and will be even much eager to add on the tally when they host rivals SC Villa at the St Mary’s stadium, Kitende this Friday in the StarTimes Uganda premier league match day 18 headlining fixture.
The match which is live on Sanyuka TV is one of the three lined up for the day. The record time champions were 3-1 winners in the last visit to Kitende last season, but their poor run since the start of this second round leaves the fans skeptical of what awaits them in Kitende.
SC Villa have lost four times this, but two of them have come in second round. They held the Venoms to a barren stalemate in the reverse fixture at Namboole stadium in a game where teenage center half Garvin Kizito, made his debut for the record 16-time champions.
The visiting fans will hope that the national U20 skipper gets his license in time to face a side that he played for in the FUFA Junior league. Kizito’s absence has been felt by SC Villa with Moses Kigundu scoring in his own net to hand Busoga United a 1-0 away victory last time out while right full back Ibrahim Kibumba and skipper Asuman Halishe have been shaky and always caught out of position.
The visitors that are 5th with 27 points will however be motivated by the timely return of their big center forward Bashir Mutanda who was the club lead scorer last season with 13 goals. Mutanda, who made an impact on his return from injury when introduced against Busoga United, is yet to find the back of the net this season and has been disturbed by injuries.
For Vipers, it is a revenge mission, but also a chance to extend their lead at the summit to double figures. The three-time champions that have only lost once (against KCCA) lead the log with 42 points, seven above second placed and reigning champions KCCA FC that host struggling Tooro United at the StarTimes stadium, Lugogo hoping to recover from a shocking 2-1 away loss to bright stars last time out.
Vipers SC skipper Halid Lwaliwa is doubtful just as midfielder Siraje Sentamu and Jacob Okao is expected to continue at the center back. Goal keeper Fabien Mutombola returns from compassionate leave but the game comes early for injured Bashir Asiku.
Bobos Byaruhaga and Abraham Ndugwa have passed the fitness test and Edward Golola, the Vipers head coach believes that they have to their best. “Games like this are not determined by position and form. Rivalries are determined by simple mistakes and thus we need total concentration against SC Villa. We are not converting enough of our chances especially in the home games which we must put right against an unpredictable Villa side,” noted Golola.
