Uganda Premier League
Vipers SC vs Maroons FC
St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende
Wednesday, 26-02-2020 @4pm
Vipers SC will take on Maroons FC at the St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende on Wednesday afternoon as the Uganda Premier League returns.
The Venoms are still top of the log but must be concerned after their recent results.
Their last two games have produced just a single point and if that trend continues, second-placed KCCA FC may end up closing in on them.
After the 0-0 draw at home to KCCA, Vipers were thrashed 3-1 by URA FC in a game that they were dominated on all fronts.
Fred Kajoba’s side may be excused as they played two of the four best sides in the country but that will all be forgotten if they do not beat Maroons.
Speaking ahead of the game, Venoms’ vice-captain Geoffrey Wasswa says they are confident and will not dwell on the past.
“We are not looking at the past, our sights are set on the task ahead,” noted Wasswa.
“We are more confident and fired up to produce the needed results and we are certainly looking to get the best from the remaining games.”
Going into the game, it has been confirmed that striker Tito Okello will not make the squad following a nasty tackle he suffered during the barren draw with KCCA. Bobosi Byaruhanga and Frank Tumwesigye are in line for returns having sat out the URA match. Skipper Halid Lwaliwa will miss a chance to face the prison warders this season through injury. The center back did not play the first leg in Luzira and Wednesday’s game comes quite early for him.
It is an important game for the Venoms but one that also carries huge implications for Maroons.
Times are not good at Maroons FC as the team is increasingly likely to be dragged into the relegation dog-fight.
After a good start to the season that saw them climb as high as 3rd at some point, things have gone extremely south.
The team can not win a league game at the moment and have slumped closer to the relegation zone than any other side currently out of the bottom three.
Douglas Bamweyana’s side are currently in 13th, just two points away from the drop zone.
The situation has led to speculation that current head coach Douglas Bamweyana may be sacked on if the team does not win on Wednesday.
An emergency meeting was called on Wednesday morning and it is understood that Bamweyana’s future will be top of the agenda.
Match Facts
This will be the 12th meeting between the two sides since January 2011.
In the previous 11 match-ups, Vipers have won 8 and drawn the other 3 without losing a single contest.
Vipers are currently on a three match winning streak against Maroons, scoring 7 goals and conceding just once.
Last season, the Venoms beat Maroons home and away including a 2-0 victory at Kitende.
The first meeting of the two sides this season ended in a 1-1 draw but after a boardroom decision, Vipers won the game 3-0 after it was proved that Maroons used an ineligible player.
Vipers heads into the game having won just two of thwir last six league games (D2 L2).
At home, the Venoms have won only one of their past three games (D1 L1).
For Maroons, they are currently on five-game winless run in the league, losing four and drawing the other.
Away from home, they have not won in six (D2 L4).
The other games to be played on Wednesday
-Police FC vs KCCA FC @4pm
-Mbarara City FC vs BUL FC @4:30pm
