Azam Uganda Premier League
Proline vs Vipers SC
StartTimes Stadium, Lugogo
Tuesday, 01-04-2018 @04:30pm
Proline will target all three points that may ease up on the relegation fears when they host title chasing Vipers SC at the StarTimes Stadium in Lugogo.
Mujibu Kasule’s men go into the game second from bottom but only a point away from safety with only five games to play.
Proline seem to have started picking momentum of late, winning both of their last two games in convincing style, all 3-1 victories.
For Vipers, they seat two points on the league summit, two points ahead of their nearest challengers SC Villa.
The 3-2 win over rivals KCCA last Friday was a big statement in the Venoms’ search for a first league title since 2015 and it must have delta their confidence a huge boost.
Team News.
Proline will go into Tuesday’s league game at home to Vipers with a number of first team players out due to injury.
Midfielder Sam Kintu is yet to recover from a muscle injury along with Allan Egaku. The game also comes too early for senior players Savio Kabugo and Sula Matovu Maluda as they are both still in the treatment room.
Vipers’ pair of Milton Karisa and Brian Nkuubi are suspended after accumulating three yellow cards each but will be available for the Venoms’ next game against Police FC on Friday. Dan Birikwalira and Halid Lwaliwa did not make the match day squad due to injury and hence will miss the trip to Lugogo.
Goalkeeper James Alitho continues serving his four match suspension.
What the coaches are saying:
Mujibu Kasule, Proline FC.
“Vipers is one of the best sides in the country at the moment and the Victory over KCCA last week did boost their confidence a great deal coming into the game against us.
“All that said, we are also a side that is fighting for our lives and the fact that we seem to be picking momentum of late helps us and we will be up for the fight.
“It is not an easy fixture for us but we will also not make it any easy for them because we also need the points desperately.
Edward Golola, Vipers FC assistant head coach.
“We shall not be surprised by the kind of game our opponents will display.
“We are enjoying a good run but there will no room for complacency and slip ups.
Match Stats:
Head to Head.
Proline has won only one of their last nine league games against Vipers (D1 L7). The win was a 2-1 victory away to the Venoms in April 2013.
Vipers has won all but one of their league away fixtures against Proline since the later was promoted to the top flight in 2010. The other fixture that Vipers did not win ended in a 2-2 draw.
The first meeting between the two sides this season ended in a 3-0 victory for the Venoms.
Proline.
Proline go into the game having lost two of their last five games in all competitions (W3 D1). Including the penalty shootout victory over UPDF in the Uganda Cup.
Mujibu Kasule’s team has won all of their last two league games, the third time they have managed to do so this season.
But Proline has not won three in a row all season. They have not won three top flight games in a raw for over six years.
Proline is the only side yet to draw a league game at home this season, winning six and drawing the same number in their first 12 games at Lugogo.
17 of their 24 league games have come at Lugogo but have failed to score in five home games this season, a league high.
Proline has lost two of their three games against the top three this season. The other is a 2-1 victory over KCCA FC at the Lugogo in November.
Vipers SC.
Vipers are in good form going into the fixture, the Venoms have not tasted defeat in any of their last 16 games in all competitions (W14 D2).
The 3-2 win over KCCA was the third Victory in a raw that Vipers has managed since defeating Villa 1-0 in Masaka. A win against Proline will see Vipers win their fourth consecutive match, a milestone they have achieved only once this season so far.
Vipers has lost a league joint second low of two games on the road this season. They have also managed six victories away from home (also a league high), drawing the five games.
They have also gone six matches without defeat on the road, winning four and drawing two. The last time that they lost a league game on the road was away to KCCA in November in a 3-1 defeat.
The Other Games to be played today:
Express FC vs KCCA FC @Wankulukuku, 04:00pm
Bright Stars vs UPDF FC @Matuga, 04:30pm
Bul Vs Maroons @Kakindu, 04:30pm
Police FC vs Soana @Namboole, 04:30pm
