CAF Champions League Preliminary Round
Saturday’s Result
Vipers SC 0-1 Al Hilal Omdurman
St Mary’s stadium – Kitende
The Venoms kick-started their Caf Champions League expedition on the back foot with a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Sudanese Al Hilal in the first leg of the preliminary round played at St. Mary’s Stadium on Saturday (November 28, 2020).
But there is no faulting the Venoms who put up a spirited fight despite not picking maximum points.
Al Hilal took the lead in the 25th minute through Bakhiet Hamid’s scorcher found the back of the net.
Super efforts from debutants Jamil Kalisa and Cesar Manzoki in the first half narrowly missed the target by a few inches as Vipers kept pushing for the equaliser.
A good and worthy penalty shout from Vipers was turned down by centre referee when Disan Galiwango’s cross seemed to have come off the hand of one of Al Hilal’s defenders.
Also Karim Watambala’s effort from 25 yards found Al Hilal’s goalkeeper Ali Ashrin with his shot-stopping gloves in.
Our first change saw Milton Karisa pave way for debutant Ibrahim Orit at the stroke of halftime.
Upon resumption of the second half, the Venoms kept surging forward and making attempt after attempt but in vain.
Manzoki could have levelled matters five minutes after restart but he relatively arrived late to meet Ndugwa’s cross.
He also came close moments later when Bashir Asiku’s cross found him inside the area but his stylish overhead kick sailed over.
The coach made further changes with Ndugwa and Kalisa coming off for Daniel Sserunkuma and David Bagoole, who was also making his debut.
In the 65th minute, our fourth change saw left back Galiwango rested for wing attacker Paul Mucureezi.
Despite committing more numbers upfront, the visitors remained resolute to secure maximum points.
Coach Fred Kajoba is full of belief there is time for improvement and believes hope for trip to Sudan.
“It is disappointing that we couldn’t get the result we wanted. We shall go back and reflect on where we didn’t do well. We still have the return leg next week and there’s chance that we can go there and look for a better result.”
The return leg will be played next weekend in Sudan with a 2-0 win good enough to see the Venoms advancement to the next stage (first round).
There is all to play for.
Vipers SC Starting XI:
Fabien Mutombora (GK), Bashir Asiku, Disan Galiwango (65′ Paul Mucureezi), Halid Lwaliwa (Captain), Geofrey Wasswa, Siraje Ssentamu, Jamil Kalisa (58’ David Bagoole), Karim Watambala, Milton Karisa (43’ Ibrahim Orit), Cesar Manzoki, Abraham Ndugwa (58’ Daniel Sserunkuma).
Unused Substitutes: Bashir Sekagya (GK), Denis Kiggundu, Livingstone Mulondo, Rashid Toha, Allan Kayiwa.
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.
Any update about Mohammad Shaban
It has became quit hard for us proceed to the next stage coz loosing 3 points at home seems not to be normak
We can still revise our mistakes and put up a better performance in Sudan, we don’t need to lose hope, football is round