StarTimes Uganda Premier League
Express FC vs Vipers SC
Betway-Mutessa II Wankulukuku Stadium, Wankulukuku
Wednesday, 07-10-2018 @04:00 pm
WANKULUKUKU: Express FC will host Vipers SC at the Betway-Mutessa II Wankulukuku Stadium on Wednesday afternoon in the StarTimes Uganda Premier league.
Ever since Kiryowa Kiwanuka took over as Chairperson of the six-time league winners, they look to be making progress on and off the pitch and look a shadow of the team that narrowly survived relegation last season.
The Reg Eagles entered into a Shs 400 Million partnership with Betting Company, Betway on Tuesday, an indication that the club is doing well off the pitch with four partners already on board this season.
In the league, they currently sit 5th on the log with 11 points after six games but all have been accumulated minus facing any of the other traditional top four sides (SC Villa, KCCA and Vipers) in Uganda.
However, their first real test will come in form of leaders Vipers SC who have drawn both of their last two league games (2-2 away to Kirinya and 1-1 at home to Vipers).
The Venoms will be on the hunt for three points and hope to maintain their unbeaten start to the league on Tuesday afternoon.
Team News:
Express are expected to still be without the trio of Mbabali Nasri, Lavita Jonny and Kabuye Robben who all missed their 3-1 win against Paidah last time out. However, the rest of the team is available.
For Vipers, Taddeo Lwanga returns from suspension and and is expected to slot straight back into the starting team. Livingstone Mulondo remains out through injury but Aggrey Madoi returns to the team after shaking off a hamstring strain. Davis Kasirye is out with nursing an injury while Tito Okello is available for selection having missed the last two encounters. Rahmat Ssenfuka is the other who misses out.
What they are saying:
Kefa Kisala, Express FC head coach:
“it is not going to be an easy game coming up against Vipers.
“They are the defending champions and arguably the best side in the coutry.
“Whoever has prepared best for the game will win it but whatever happens, we will take it.
Match Facts:
This is the 17th meeting between Express and Vipers since 2010.
The Red Eagles come into the game having won only two of those games and non in the last five fixtures. The last time Express defeated Vipers dates back to December 2015 in a 2-0 victory at Wankulukuku.
Last season, Vipers did the doubel over Express including a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture.
However, the Venoms have defeated Express only three times in their last nine visits to Wankulukuku (D5 L5).
Express head into the game on a four match unbeaten run (W3 D1).
Going back to last season, the Red Eagles have lost only one league game at home in their last 10. (W5 D4).
For Vipers, they are currently on a 23 match unbeaten run in the league (W18 D5). The last time the Venoms lost a league game was on 28th-November-2017 when URA defeated them 2-1 at kitende.
Away from home, Javier Martinez’s side have also been impressive lately, not losing any of their last 11 trips (W7 D4). KCCA was the last team to defeat the Venoms away from home thanks to a 3-1 defeat in Lugogo on 21st-November-2018.
