Uganda Premier League
Friday, 23-04-2021 @4pm
-Vipers SC vs Express FC, Kitende
-Kyetume FC vs Wakiso Giants FC, Nakisunga
The Uganda Premier League will see match-day 20 kick-off on Friday with two testy fixtures.
At Kitende, defending champions Vipers SC will attempt to end Express’s hope for the title when the two side meet.
Earlier this week, the top three of Vipers, URA FC and Express FC all failed to win on the same match-day for the first time this season.
Vipers are coming off a goalless draw at home to Wakiso Giants, the first time the Venoms failed to collect maximum points at home this season.
They had gone on a nine-game winning streak that had seen them blow away opponents with ease. During that spell, they scored an impressive 24 goals while letting in just three.
The result did not look like disaster as URA also failed to win the following day, drawing at Villa.
However, the Venoms must be concerned as their forwards did not put away chances and will hope for a better outcome this time round.
Vipers come into this one without goalkeeper Fabien Mutombora who is still suspended. However, captain Halid Lwaliwa has returned from compassionate leave and they have a neat to full strength squad.
When they come up against Express, they must know they are taking on a side that is capable of hurting them at the other end as the Red Eagles have scored in all but three of their 19 games so far.
However, the Red Eagles have also not been scoring enough as they have netted just twice in their last three league games.
Much of that has been due to the injury issues of their attackers.
When they lost 2-1 at Bright Stars on Tuesday, they were without three of their starters in attack as Godfrey Lwesibawa, Martin Kizza and George Ssenkaba were all out.
Against Vipers, there is no room for error for the Red Eagles who must know that a loss may as well see their dreams of winning a first league crown since 2012, fly out of the window.
Currently, Wasswa Bbosa’s side sit five points adrift of the leading duo of Vipers and URA.
Express will continue to be without the trio of Abel Etrude, Arthur Kiggundu and George Ssenkaba who are long-term absentees. Martin Kizza is a fitness doubt but Godfrey Lwesibawa returns from suspension.
Vipers are currently unbeaten in their last six meetings with Express winning four and drawing the other two.
At Nakisunga, Kyetume and Wakiso Giants face off in an early relegation six-pointer.
Both sides have a chance to drop down if results continue not to go their way.
Kyetume are currently in the relegation zone with 16 points, four adrift of safety. Wakiso on the other hand, are 12th with 20 points.
For Kyetume, all this may not come as a shock given the reported internal wrangles and financial struggles at the club.
But for Wakiso, there is a semblance of organisation at the front office and money has never been there problem, per say.
However, all that will be on pause when two familiar sides, that were promoted to top flight in the same season, meet in Nakisunga.
Kyetume will bank on home support, playing at the venue for the second time since shifting from Njeru while Wakiso Giants will be buoyed by the point they picked at Vipers going into this one.
Kyetume will welcome back midfielder Isaac Kirabira while Raymond Walugembe has also returned after missing the last two games. The Slaughters will be without Joshua Kigozi who is out with a shoulder injury while Steven Kagoda is still three weeks away from return. Felix Okot is out on compassionate leave.
Wakiso Giants welcome Viane Ssekajugo from a four-game ban. The Purple Sharks will continue to miss the services of Defender Edward Satulo while Pius Kaggwa is side-lined with sickness.
The last two meetings between the two sides ended in draws.
