Azam Uganda Premier League
Vipers SC 4-1 UPDF FC
St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende
Friday, 25-05-2018
Vipers SC were on Friday evening crowned champions of the Uganda Premier League.
The Venoms had to do it the hard way, coming from a goal down to defeat 10 man UPDF who were eventually relegated.
Daniel Sserunkuma, Yayo Lutimba, Erisa Ssekisambu and Pius Wanji scored for the Venoms to cancel out a 24th minute goal from Joseph Janjali.
Janjali put the visitors in the lead after a howler from goalkeeper Ismail Watenga who failed to handle a long ball from Joseph Othieno and the striker tapped into an empty net.
The Army side’s hopes of holding on to the lead for a famous victory where dealt a major blow when midfielder Julius Kisambira was sent off for a bad foul on Duncan Seninde.
Earlier, he had got in the book of referee Ali Sabila for a career threatening tackle on the same player.
Vipers started to pile pressure and got the leveller on 45 minutes through a Yayo Lutimba scorcher from inside the area after a brilliant may off by Milton Karisa.
In the second half, the hosts came out all guns blazing and got their reward on 65 minutes when Sydney Ssenyonga was judged to have handled the ball in the forbidden area and Ssekisambu converted the resulting kick.
Sserunkuma made it 3-1 to the eventual champions, with an easy tap in after Milton Karisa’s brilliant cutback, nine minutes from time.
This was the striker’s 17th league goal of the season and he finishes as the top scorer, two goals ahead of Bright Stars’ captain Nelso Ssenkatuka who manged 15 throughout the campaign.
In the first minute of the three additional minutes , Pius Wanji who had come on for Sserunkuma beat an offside trap and goalie to slot home the fourth.
The result ment that Vipers had won the league regardless of the result in Namboole where KCCA drew 2-2 with Police.
The Venoms finished the league with 65 points, four ahead of second placed KCCA FC.
This is Vipers’ first league crown since the 2014-15 season and their third overall.
Their first league triumph dates back to the 2009-10 season when they were still known as Bunamwaya SC.
They will know be able to represent the Nation at the prestigious CAFChampions League for the coming year (2019).
The Venoms are still vying to win the Uganda Cup and they will take on SC Villa in the semi finals first leg on Sunday at Wankulukuku.
The trio of UPDF, Proline and Masavu FC were relegated to the FUFA Big League and will be replaced by Ndejje University, Nyamityobora as well as Paidha Black Angles.
The other games played on Friday:
-Vipers SC 4-1 UPDF FC
-Police FC 2-2 KCCA
-Proline FC 1-2 URA FC
-Onduparaka FC 2-0 Bright Star
-SC Villa 0-1 Bul FC
-Mbarara City 0-2 Kirinya
-Soana 0-0 Maroons.
