Uganda premier league
Thursday, 4pm
KCCA vs Vipers, Lugogo (Live on Sanyuka TV)
Two best sides in the Uganda premier league clash this Thursday afternoon as league leaders KCCA FC host second placed Vipers SC at the StarTimes stadium, Lugogo.
KCCA, whose only hopes for silverware this season is the league title, top standings with 52 points from 24 games, 4 points above Vipers.
Mike Mutebi is targeting all the three points against rivals and the KCCA manager believes that victory would guarantee them the premier league title.
KCCA have a chance to move seven points clear of Vipers at the top if they can inflict a third league loss to the Venoms but the latter can narrow the gap to one point with victory.
“It is one of the best fixtures and you can refer to it as a decider. We shall play our way and the fans are going to enjoy. We have had a good run in the last two months with exception of URA defeat and that gives us confidence ahead of the clash. If we win, the road to winning the championship would have been softened,” noted Mutebi, who hinted on making surprise changes in his starting XI. “I select players according performances in training and you may be surprised,” he said. The hosts that come off a 2-0 away win at Kirinya Jinja SSS miss long term absentee Julius Poloto through injury. Vipers played to an unconvincing 2-0 home win at Maroons last timeout, but assistant coach Edward Golola believes his charges will put up better performance against the 12-time champions. “It’s a tough game and we need to work as a team. We have been in this situation before and we have to work hard for the team every minute on the pitch because we know how important the result is,” he noted. “KCCA is a strong team especially playing at their home. We need to be spot on and the boys have to show anger. We are not intimidated and we shall go for three points,” added Golola, whose side welcome back defender Livingstone Mulondo from injury while goal keeper Fabien Mutombora and right back Karim Niyigizimana return after national team duties with Burundi. Geoffrey Wasswa and Bashir Ssekagya remain out injured. The two sides played to a one-all draw when they met at the St Mary’s stadium, Kitende last November in the first round with Dan Sserunkuma scoring for the Venoms in the opening half before Filbert Obenchan fetched a point for the Lugogo side with an equalizer early after the break. After that tie, KCCA experienced midfielder Sadam Juma was labeled ‘uneducated’ by his manager after missing a penalty in the 65th minute when forward Allan Kyambadde was brought down in the box by defender Halid Lwaliwa. Thursday’s showdown is the 28th league meeting between the two sides. Vipers that lost 2-1 in last visit to Lugogo, have come on top 11 times, draw 6 and lost 10 times in the previous 27 games.
