STARTIMES UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE
Match: Vipers SC v Onduparaka FC
Date: December 7th, 2022
Time: 4pm | Live On Sanyuka Prime
Venue: St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende
Vipers SC will be looking to bounce back quickly from a disappointing 1-0 to Gaddafi FC, when they play host to Onduparaka FC at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Wednesday.
The Sunday setback came on the back of five successive victories, and, our head coach Roberto Oliveira alias Robertinho will be keen on instantly getting back on track, well knowing that victory will lift us to the summit.
“Obviously, it was disappointing to concede an early goal (against Gaddafi) and they made it difficult for us, they dropped deep and we had to try to penetrate for most of the game after that,” reflected Robertinho to Vipers Media.
“Credit to them, they made it tough and difficult. We’ve just got to dust ourselves off and stay confident, it’s halfway so we’ve still got a chance to bounce back,” he added.
“We can take confidence from the way we dominated possession, especially in the second half. The chances will come. It’s not over, far from it.”
Our deputy skipper Siraje Ssentamu has indicated the team is desperate to use the Sunday loss as motivation for maximum points.
“It’s disappointing and not something we’re used to,” the combative midfielder said.
“But if anything, it just gives us that motivation to bounce back and make it right as quickly as possible. Sometimes it happens and you need to take the positives from it.”
“It gives us that hunger again – not that we didn’t have it but we just want to bounce back and make it right. That’s what we’ll try to do.”
The Venoms are unbeaten in the last ten league meetings with Onduparaka, and we have managed seven wins and three stalemates.
In a similar encounter at Kitende last season, we edged the Caterpillars 1-0, thanks to Halid Lwaliwa’s goal.
In the reverse fixture, Milton Karisa and Cesar Manzoki netted one apiece as we won 2-0 at the Greenlight Stadium, Arua.
Team News:
Murushid Juuko sustained significant sprain to his right ankle ligament during Gaddafi FC (a) match on Sunday and won’t be available for tomorrow’s encounter.
Top-scorer Yunus Sentamu is still out nursing a groin injury. Currently at our training sessions every day receiving specialist attention and support from our medical team.
Abdu Lumala started his rehabilitation process this week and will continue his recovery with the aim of a return to full fitness before the end of 2022.
Long-term absentees Paul Mucureezi and Livingstone Mulondo will continue to stay sidelined with respective injury setbacks.