STARTIMES UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE

UPDF FC vs Vipers SC
Date: April 2, 2021
Time: 4PM
Venue: Bombo Military Barracks Grounds

Vipers quest to go top of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League log faces a massive test on Friday evening when they visit stubborn UPDF FC at the Bombo Military playground.

The army side may be sixth on the table but have been a very unpredictable customer for many sides since their return to the top flight this season.

The Venoms and UPDF put up an explosive and intense performance in the first round at the St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende in a game where the latter’s left back Issa Mubiru got sent off for a second bookable offence in the 75th minute.

However, the visitors’ resilience was broken when Yunus Sentamu brushed in Joseph Dhata’s throw-in on 82 minutes to seal all three points for the home side.

Playing in Bombo has not been easy for the champions with their last meeting in 2017 ending 1-1 therefore they must dig deep if they have to pick three points.

Fred Kajoba has cautioned his players and urged them to improve their displays away from home as they begin the tough second round.

“We hope the boys can do better than they did in the opening round especially when it comes to converting chances into goals and also minimising mistakes in our goal area,” explained Kajoba.

“We struggled to score goals in our last two outings in Ndejje and Mbarara and ended up dropping six points so we need to check this tally and keep our target alive.”

A win for Vipers will see them return to the table summit for at least 24 hours before current leader URA FC play Express FC away in Wankulukuku on Saturday.

Last 3 meetings:
15/Nov/2017:- UPDF FC 1-1 Vipers SC
25/May/2018:- Vipers SC 4-1 UPDF FC
13/Feb/2021:- Vipers SC 1-0 UPDF FC

UPDF’s last home games:
UPDF FC 0-1 Onduparaka FC
UPDF FC 2-0 Mbarara City FC
UPDF FC 1-0 Express FC
UPDF FC 0-0 Wakiso Giants FC

  • The army side has scored three goals in their last five home games.
  • They have only picked two home victories in their last five games at Bombo.

Vipers last 5 away games:
Express FC 1-1 Vipers SC
Kyetume FC 2-2 Vipers SC
Onduparaka FC 1-3 Vipers SC
Mbarara City FC 1-0 Vipers SC
URA FC 2-1 Vipers SC

  • Vipers has managed to score seven goals in their last five outings.
  • The Venoms have only failed to score once away from home this season, this came in their 1-0 defeat to Mbarara City.

Team News:

Brian Kalumba and Ibrahim Tembo are ineligible to face their parent club since they are on loan from Vipers.

However goalkeeper Eric Kibowa will face his former side Vipers since making a permanent move to UPDF FC.

To this end, Bashir Sekagya, if selected for the Venoms, will turn guns against his previous pay masters.

Siraje Sentamu returns from suspension that saw him sit out of Vipers 1-0 triumph over KCCA last month.

Shaban Muhammad and Bashir Asiku are unavailable through club suspension.

Ibrahim Orit, Halid Lwaliwa and Yunus Sentamu returned from National duty with the Uganda Cranes and could be named in the match day squad.

Bobosi Byaruhanga is on a compassionate leave following the demise of his sibling.

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.