The Date: SUPL Fixture: 14 – Jan – 2020
The Contest: Proline vs. Vipers
The Venue: StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo
Vipers coach Edward Golola is refusing to take anything for granted when his side visit the StarTimes Stadium in Lugogo on Tuesday for a date against relegation-threatened Proline FC.
Having edged past Kyetume last Friday to keep their place on top of the 16-team log with 39 points, Golola has rallied his charges to double their efforts against Proline, who will be looking to carry on the momentum following their 2-1 away win against Maroons in Luzira.
And with the battle for points getting more intense, the Venoms gaffer has been preaching that there will be no complacency creeping into his squad.
“We know how desperately both teams need the three points but only one can get the best from this game. The fixtures are as tight as you can see and we have cautioned the boys not to get so comfortable because we are not yet there,”
Vipers SC Coach, Edward Golola
Vipers have struggled to get things going whenever they’re at Lugogo but they will be intent on turning the corner as they continue their ruthless hunt for three points.
The most recent visit witnessed the Venoms lose their unbeaten run to KCCA while the last meeting with Proline ended 2-1 in favour of the hosts as the march to the Uganda Cup last year painfully ended.
“We beat them in the reverse fixture but they are now quite motivated and are also a good side when playing at home. It’s going to be an exciting encounter. But we are focused and are not ready to slip up,” he added.
Fahad Bayo, who scored the solitary goal that downed Proline during the first round of the league at Kitende will be looking to haunt his boyhood club.
Bayo will be making his first appearance for the Venoms at Lugogo as he missed the 1-0 defeat against KCCA as he was on national team duty last November.
But the towering striker will not be the only player familiar at this venue, the pair of Rahmat Ssenfuka and Farouk Musisi, have all played for Proline before whereas new-signing Paul Mucureezi’s memories of Lugogo are still very fresh with the exciting midfielder having been at KCCA FC for three seasons.
Team news:
Forwards Allan Kayiwa and Abraham Ndugwa are likely to be in consideration for selection as the pair have recovered a bout of malaria and injury respectively.
Midfielder Bobos Byaruhanga resumed training after shaking off a knock but will have to get clearance from the team doctor to play.
Forward Umar Kyebatala is expected to get more playing time having appeared for just seven minutes on his senior debut against Kyetume.
Defender Halid Lwaliwa returns from club leave where he has been attending to family obligations but goalkeeper Fabien Mutombora will miss the game as he is away in Burundi to pay the last respects to his fallen father (RIP).
Copyright 2020 Vipers Sports Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.viperssc.co.ug as the source.
We need to know if our games will be televised, so those that can’t get to the stadium can follow on TV or social networks.
Vipers is on of the best performing team in Uganda premier league.