STANBIC UGANDA CUP | R64
Bujumbura United v Vipers SC
Kibanjwa Primary Playground | 4pm
There will be no butterflies as Vipers SC new head coach Beto Bianchi Pellister takes charge of his first game in the country, when the side take on Bujumbura United in the Round of 64 of the Stanbic Uganda Cup.
Despite being in charge for just three weeks, the Brazilian-Spanish coach will have a task to get past the Kitara region leaders, with a spot in the Round of 32 at stake on Tuesday.

“It’s not been long with the boys (three weeks) but l believe have prepared them enough to try and adopt to my philosophy,” said the tactician to the club media.
“The philosophy may not be instant but we shall try to give our best in tomorrow’s match,” he added in optimism.

“We have had a good week of training: we trained well and we trained on a very aggressive level in the last couple of days.”
“Now, it’s up to us to play as we trained in the last couple of days,” noted Bianchi.

Nine Venoms including Jack Komakech, Isa Mubiru, Ashraf Mandela, Hilary Mukundane, Marvin Joseph Youngman, Karim Watambala, Ibrahim Orit, Bright Anukani and skipper Milton Karisa have been with the national senior team for the African Nations Championships (CHAN) and only returned on Saturday last week.
A number of them have formed part of Bianchi’s training sessions, and the gaffer underlined in confidence, that they’re making the right progress.

“The players that came back from the National team have tried to fit in well, though some will miss this encounter through injuries and fatigue.”
Vipers and Bujumbura have never met in before, and Tuesday will provide the right platform for either side to write history.

The Venoms will see tomorrow’s game as the perfect way to start the campaign on a high, with the aim of hitting the final for the third successive time.
While we won the Cup in 2021, trumping BUL FC 8-1, we lost the battle (3-1) to the same opponent last season.
Team News:
Bianchi believes that Yunus Sentamu’s recovery from his groin injury is going well, however doesn’t expect his striker to be rushed back immediately.
Livingstone Mulondo, Dissan Galiwango and Murushid Juuko are back ahead of tomorrow’s match and included in the 18 man squad to face Bujumbura United.
Team Captain Milton Karisa is out of tomorrow’s game after suffering a knock in Uganda Cranes last CHAN game against Ivory Coast.
Too soon for Siraje Sentamu, Marvin Joseph Youngman and Najib Yiga who are back in training but still undergoing rehabilitation process.
New recruit Martin Kizza continues to recover after contracting malaria last week. Kizza will be unavailable for tomorrow’s match, but is hoping to resume light training this week.