Uganda Premier League
Vipers SC vs Kyetume FC
St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende
Friday, 10-01-2020 @4:30pm
KITENDE – Vipers SC will be hoping to regain their four-point lead at the top of the Uganda Premier League table when they host Kyetume FC at the St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende on Friday afternoon.
The Venoms ended the first round with a four-point lead but it was cut to just one on Wednesday after second-placed KCCA FC beat Mbarara City FC 1-0.
It is expected to be a straight forward affair as Vipers have been undoubtedly the best side in the League so far this season.
They lost just a single game in the first round and if they can replicate that form, it will have to take some effort to stop them from winning the title.
Having defeated both Wakiso Giants FC and Proline FC-the two other newly promoted sides, anything but three points on Friday will be disaster for the Vipers’ faithful.
Speaking ahead of the game, Vipers SC head coach Edward Golola noted that they have prepared well and will be eager to win.
“We have prepared ourselves well knowing that this campaign is not easy. Said Golola as quoted on Vipers SC official website.
“Its going to be tough and we need to be ready for anything.
“The team has also one or two new faces that are charged and motivated to give their best. They’re ready to be unleashed.”
The biggest new face is Paul Mucureezi who completed a move from Mbarara City FC to Vipers SC early this week.
Mucureezi is expected to feature in Friday’s game although it is unknown whether the former KCCA FC winger will take part from the start.
Youthful midfielder Bobos Byaruhanga has a slight knock picked during training and will have to beat a late fitness test.
This game has also comes a little too early for the pair of Bashir Asiku and Abraham Ndugwa who are yet to fully recover from injuries.
Vipers will continue to be without striker Shaban Muhammad and Livingstone Mulondo, who are under rehabilitation following surgeries.
For Kyetume, they will be hoping to pull off a major upset under returning head coach Jackson Mayanja.
Mayanja returned to the club in the mid-season break, taking over the vacant role following George Best Nsimbe’s departure.
It is the second homecoming for the former KCCA FC and Uganda Cranes legend as he was responsible for leading Kyetume to promotion to the top tier last season.
He takes charge of a squad filled with veteran players and if he can get the best out of them starting with Friday’s encounter, they are very capable of coming up with a few shocks.
Kyetume ended the first round in 12th with 16 points from 15 games.
Match Facts
This will be the second top-flight meeting between the two sides.
Vipers defeated Kyetume in their first ever meeting in the first round.
Vipers SC heads into the game having lost just one of their first 15 games (W11 D3).
At home, Golola’s side have been formidable, winning six of their opening seven games whilst drawing the other.
For Kyetume, they come into the contest having lost all their last four League games, conceding 17 goals and scoring just three.
Away from home, the Slaughters have also lost all their last four games.
The other games on Friday
-Busoga United FC vs Express FC @4pm
-Bright Stars FC vs BUL FC @4:30pm
-Maroons FC vs Proline FC @4:30pm
