UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE
Thursday, September 21st | 7pm
Vipers SC v Arua Hill SC
St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende
For the first Uganda Premier League home game this season, Vipers SC will entertain Arua Hill SC at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Thursday under floodlights.
The Venoms will be hoping they can build from Sunday’s away 2-1 win over Gadaffi FC for better perfomances and victory.
Our head coach Leo Neiva has asserted the team is building a stronger mentality, to achieve big in the season.
“We want to create a lot of things during a season and one is obviously mentality, absolutely; it’s spirit, it’s a lot of things, resilience. And yes, we showed a few good signs,” the Brazilian told the club media.
“We showed very well that in good moments we are a really good football team, in lesser-good moments we obviously don’t give up so far.”
“But it’s still early days. We are not stable yet, that’s definitely the case, you can see that. But we are on the way,” the tactician added.
We boast an enviable squad, stacked with quality in all areas and the pressure is certainly on, to deliver at every asking.
“We know that we have good footballers but these good footballers can play bad, like we did in the second half, that’s how it is. But they are much better, we know that as well. Let’s fight through it.”
“We all know it: the very good games you win anyway and in the moment when you start winning the lesser-good games that is a good sign.”
While the team played brilliant football in the first half against Gadaffi, the second wasn’t particularly impressive, but Neiva is fully aware of the fact and what needs to be done going forward.
“Obviously the second half was not lesser-good, it was absolutely kinda poor because they attacked us, but the first half was especially good. And knowing you can have a reaction like that is helpful, absolutely.”
Vipers managed a slim 1-0 victory over tomorrow’s opponent last season at Kitende, courtesy of Milton Karisa’s sole goal.
Last Two Meetings At Kitende
2021/22: Vipers SC 3-1 Arua Hill SC
2022/23: Vipers SC 1-0 Arua Hill SC
Team News:
Patrick Mbowa and Fabien Mutombora are back and in the 20-man squad to face Arua Hill after sitting out the 2-1 win over Gaddafi FC in Jinja with groin injuries.
This fixture comes too early for Ghanaian Fumador Asiwome who suffered a muscle strain injury in pre-season and is instead expected to be back after two weeks.
Hilary Mukundane is expected to be out for sometime after suffering a Posterior Cruciate Ligament injury in our CAF Champions League game against Jwaneng Galaxy FC in Bostwana.