UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE
The Date: April 22nd, 2023
The Contest: Vipers SC vs. URA FC
The Time: 7pm
The Venue: St Mary’s Stadium
In a bid to keep up the fight to defend the StarTimes Uganda Premier League, Vipers SC will need to fend off opposition from URA FC when the two lock-horns on Saturday at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
The game comes on the back of three successive victories for the Venoms across all competitions, with head coach Alex Isabirye keen on maintaining the progress.
“We have to show up and really go for it,” Isabirye started in fighting mood while speaking to the club media.
The gaffer is however well aware of the magnitude of the encounter as the Tax Collectors have won six of their last eight league games.
“Yeah, super-important game, that’s the one thing that’s not different to all the other games because obviously for us super-important, for URA FC super-important.”
Vipers occupy third on the log with 35 points, eight behind leaders SC Villa, who have played four games more, but Isabirye only intends to focus on a game at a time in his title charge.
“I’m not sure in the moment, I don’t think you could now say it’s nicer to fight for the title or whatever, in the moment it’s just about [that] we have to win football games. And you get usually what you deserve if you work hard enough – and that’s what we try.”
“But we know it’s a massive game, a massive week coming up. But for tomorrow obviously they deserve all the attention, we should not think about the other games.”
“That’s how we approach it. It’s clear, against URA you have to be on top of your game. You have to defend on a super-high level and you have to play football as well.”
We edged the first round bout 1-0 at the Saza Grounds, Nakisunga courtesy of a Benjamin Nyakoojo own-goal.
URA is the only team in the league with a better head to head record over the Venoms, edging our previous 36 meetings.
Vipers SC and URA FC will be meeting for the 37th time in Uganda’s league history since 2006 when the Venoms joined the top flight division. We have won 8, drawn 12 and lost 16 with a return of 33 goals against 39.
Head-To-Head:
Meetings: 36
Vipers wins: 8
Draws: 12
Losses: 16
Goals for: 33
Against: 39
Points: 35
However, we have won each of the past two games including last season’s 3-0 victory at Arena of Visions, Ndejje University, thanks to goals from Halid Lwaliwa, Cesar Manzoki and Yunus Sentamu.
Team News:
Karim Watambala and Bright Anukani are both back and in contention if chosen to face URA FC.
Apart from long term absentees; Murushid Juuko and Alfred Mudekereza, Isabirye has a fully fit squad to choose from his 18 man squad.