UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2022 | 4PM
Vipers SC v Maroons FC
ST MARY’S STADIUM, KITENDE
Vipers SC will be looking to pick this Uganda Premier League season’s first victory, as we take on Maroons FC on Friday, November 4, 2022 at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
While the League is already into matchday six, this will only be our third game of the campaign.
And, it will be one the Venoms will be keen on picking a positive result, as history in this fixture has been on our side over the years.
“I trust my players, I believe in the group and the objective tomorrow is to play well and win,” our head coach Roberto Oliveira alias Robertinho said to Vipers Media.
“We have had specific theoretical and tactical training and it was positive, we received good feedback,” added the Brazilian.
“We have to win this game for our future, as this club is big and needs to win every game. I believe in my capacity and the personality here.”
Tomorrow’s meeting will be the 15th between the two sides, but for the previous 14, the Venoms are yet to lose any, and in the process, we have 10 victories and four stalemates.
Meetings: 14
Vipers Wins: 10
Draws: 04
Losses: 0
Goals For: 22
Against: 05
Points: 34
Both clubs have over the years had a change of names for rebranding purposes. Vipers changed from Bunamwaya in 2012 while Maroons changed from Prisons FC.
The first ever meeting since the latter changed to the current name, was in 2008 at Nakivubo Stadium, with the encounter finishing 1-1.
Tony Odur was on the score-sheet for Vipers as Ronald Atugonza netted for Maroons.
Our dominance in this fixture however never implies it’s always a sail in the park, as it’s almost always tight everytime we meet.
Previous Six Home Meetings:
2010/11: Vipers 1-1 Maroons
2011/12: Vipers 1-0 Maroons
2015/16: Vipers 1-0 Maroons
2017/17: Vipers 1-1 Maroons
2018/19: Vipers 2-0 Maroons
2019/20: Vipers 5-0 Maroons.
Despite the tight contests, our assistant skipper Siraje Ssentamu has asserted we’ll not settle for anything less than a victory.
“Maroons is a good team but tomorrow, we are looking straight and set to win our first game this season.”
“We haven’t been scoring goals, but the coaches have done everything to rectify these niggles and we’re ready for tomorrow. We have to pick the three points,” reiterated Ssentamu.
Last time out against the Prison Warders at Kitende, we were 5-0 winners over our opponent, with strikes from Allan Kayiwa, Brian Nkuubi, Milton Karisa and Abraham Ndugwa.
Team News:
Robertinho has been boosted by the return of combative midfielder Siraje Sentamu in the squad having been out due to a hamstring injury suffered in our 4-2 penalty shootout victory over TP Mazembe in the CAF Champions League.
Ibrahim Orit has returned to full fitness after the shoulder injury he sustained last month in our first leg CAF Champions League match against TP Mazembe at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
Centre-back Livingstone Mulondo suffered a foot injury in a training this week and will miss tomorrow’s encounter against Maroons FC.
Midfielder Paul Mucureezi limped off in last week’s friendly against Sseguku United after injuring his foot and his expected return date is still unknown.
Abubakar Lawal suffered a knock to his knee in training last week. He only returned to training this week and the medical staff are monitoring the Nigerian and will be looking to not give him too much, too soon.