UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE
The Date: April 19th, 2023
The Contest: UPDF FC vs. Vipers SC
The Time: 4pm
The Venue: Bombo Military Barrack
Vipers SC will be looking to build upon the past two victories as they make a trip to Bombo to take on UPDF FC in the Uganda Premier League on Wednesday.
The Venoms have picked two victories on the bounce; a 2-0 win over Blacks Power FC in the league and 4-1 against Calvary FC in the Uganda Cup.
“We’ve got another opportunity to go away and try and build on our recent performances and try to get an away win,” said head coach Alex Isabirye, “If we do, we’ll creep closer to where we want to be.”
Vipers currently sit third on the log with 32 points in just 17 games. The reigning champions are 11 points behind table leaders SC Villa, who have played four games more.
It’ll, however, not be a walk in the park as the army side have not lost a game in their previous four, winning three times.
“It’s going to be a tough game, but we’re in a good place, we want to go there and be really tough to beat,” assured Isabirye.
Defender Hillary Mukundane is cognizant of this fact and wants his teammates to fight towards ascending further up on the table.
“We’ve still got teams above us that we want to overtake. We’ve got some big games coming up, so we’re looking forward to every game and will automatically proceed with caution.”
Isabirye, meanwhile, revealed that a number of first team players are back from respective layoffs and asserted their importance to the remainder of the season.
“We’re getting players back from injury, the likes of Marvin Joseph Youngman, Miguel Nzau Lutumba, Siraje Ssentamu and Karim Watambala,” he said.
“A couple of the young players; Rogers Torach and Enock Luyima are adapting really well and starting to put in performances that are keeping them in the squad.”
Vipers ran out emphatic 4-0 victors in the reverse fixture in the first round, courtesy of a Yunus Sentamu hat-trick and a Rogers Adriko own goal.
In the past eleven league meetings between the two since 2015, the Venoms are yet to lose a game, with seven wins and four draws.
Team News:
Angolan midfielder Miguel Nzau Lutumba who suffered a knock to his knee in our last league game against Blacks Power FC returned to training this week and is available for the squad to face UPDF FC tomorrow.
Marvin Joseph Youngman is out with an ankle problem and as a precaution he was asked to take a rest.
Siraje Sentamu, Bright Anukani and Karim Watambala are progressing well and back in full training. Decision on their participation for Saturday’s match against URA FC at St Mary’s Stadium will be made in the forthcoming days.
Goalkeeper Alfred Mudekereza is still sidelined with a finger injury as he goes through his rehabilitation process.
Murushid Juuko, too, is still out nursing an injury and it is not yet clear when he will return.