STARTIMES UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE
Wednesday March 17, 2021
Vipers SC v KCCA FC
St Mary’s Stadium | 4pm
It’s the big one and it will be a battle for supremacy as Vipers SC hosts rivals KCCA FC in a StarTimes Uganda Premier League fixture on Wednesday at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende as pursuit of the crown intensifies.
The Venoms will be seeking a swift return to winning ways after suffering a 2-1 defeat to URA FC on Saturday away at the Arena of Visions in Ndejje last week. This is a fixture of great importance to the club’s ambitions as we wind up the first round thus it ought to be treated with much determination & vigour.
Without our captain Halid Lwaliwa out due to illness plus fellow defenders Rashid Toha and ever-present Paul Willa suspended owing to accumulated cautions, it was a tall order against a bogey team but the lads showed character despite losing the fixture in Ndejje.
The Opposition:
Ahead of this tie, with three points separating the two giants as we wind up the first round, an outright win is a must for KCCA since a loss dents their hopes as it keeps Vipers at a distance when the league second stanza kicks off next month.
On the road, KCCA has won three matches against Soltilo Bright Stars FC, Busoga United and Kyetume FC, drew twice with Express FC and Wakiso Giants FC as well as suffering two defeats to SC Villa and BUL FC. They have scored 11 goals conceding 7 out of the seven away fixtures.
The Kasasiro lads have never failed to score in each of the 14 matches they have played this season hence will approach the encounter in buoyant moods in relation to that statistic however in Vipers, they are up against a side with a 100% home record.
Coach Mike Mutebi has achieved tremendous success at Lugogo and at his disposal is a youthful star-studded squad but in Vipers, he is facing a well-oiled opponent capable of overcoming any opposition.
Further to that, he has masterminded only one win against the Venoms, losing three and drawing five out of the five meetings under his reign.
Last meeting at Kitende
Vipers 0-0 KCCA
The corresponding league fixture at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, ended in a pulsating 0-0 draw as both teams squandered numerous scoring chances however Vipers was later declared league winners after the Covid-19 pandemic halted the league continuation with 5 matches remaining for each team.
Form:
Vipers are on a form of their life at home with seven wins out of seven however KCCA is also unbeaten in their previous five matches having collected 13 points from the possible 15.
Vipers last 5 league matches
Lost 2-1 against URA away at Ndejje.
Won 3-0 against SC Villa at Kitende
Lost 1-0 away to Mbarara City
Won 2-0 at home against Soltilo Brightstars
Beat Onduparaka 3-1 away in Arua
KCCA last 5 league matches
Drew 1-1 with Police
Won 1-0 on the road against Kyetume
Thumped UPDF 6-1 at Lugogo.
Won 4-0 away at Busoga United
Won 4-0 over Kitara at Lugogo
Team News:
Aziz Kayondo is back in contention following splendid performances at the U20 Afcon in Mauritania and will be available for selection against KCCA FC after being rested for the trip to Ndejje.
Najib Yiga is unavailable as he is still recovering from an injury he picked while on duty with the Uganda U20 Hippos.
Paul Willa and Rashid Toha return from suspension after accumulating three yellow cards that subsequently saw the pair sit out of the 2-1 defeat to URA FC.
Abraham Ndugwa is fit and will be available for the match day squad so is Shaban Muhammad who could face his former side.
The Coach’s view:
”We have set ourselves well both mentally and physically and we will go all out against KCCA FC on Wednesday. We are playing at home and it’s important for us to do our best and end the first round well.”
With all the above, what reasons can someone give to miss this anticipated encounter.
Copyright 2021 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.