UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE 

The Date: October 27, 2023

The Contest: Bright Stars vs. Vipers SC

The Time: 4pm (Live on Sanyuka TV)

The Venue: Kavumba Recreation Center

After two Uganda Premier League draws on the bounce, Vipers SC will be looking to get back on track with victory when we visit Soltilo Bright Stars FC at Kavumba Recreation Center on Friday.

The Venoms picked 0-0 and 1-1 draws to Mbarara City FC and SC Villa, respectively, in the last matches but tomorrow presents a perfect opportunity for a turnaround.

Assistant Coach Richard Wasswa has stressed the team is in perfect shape and ready to rumble against a stubborn opponent.

“I can say that we have prepared our players well mentally and physically they’re ready for any moment that may come their way,” Wasswa told Vipers Media.

“Our intention is to win that match, stick to our philosophy of high pressing, building the ball from the back, quick movements and capitalize on the chances.”

He also underlined at some of the strategies the team needs to lay their focus on, in case they’re to grab three points on enemy territory.

“We need to look for an early goal that will help us settle for the rest of the 90 minutes but we can’t underestimate Bright Stars.”

“They’re a strong team, respect them but our intentions are to win the game tomorrow, so players need to impose themselves and play according to the strategy and instructions.”

Vipers lost 1-0 in the last league visit at Kavumba with Emmanuel Loki scoring the sole goal.

“Visiting Kavumba is not an easy task especially because of the unpredictable weather conditions but we have a strategy of overcoming all those hurdles.”

“We need to fight for all the points and forget about what happened last season in Kavumba, we’re fresh and determined to get maximum points,” Wasswa summed.

Meanwhile, winger Abdu Lumala reiterated the readiness in the team in trying to oust Bright Stars.

“We’re playing a good opponent, they love to play but we just have to get their with confidence that we’re a big team,” Lumala told the club media.

“We’re Vipers and when we go there they know we’re coming. So, we’re ready because we’re professionals,” the pacy attacker added.

“We are not afraid of anyone who is winning week in week out, we just have to focus on ourselves, the journey is still long.”

“No pressure at all because we’re only focusing on us, we know how good we’re and can be. We just have to keep giving our best.”

While Vipers holds the lion’s share of victories in this fixture, games between the two are always hugely tight and contested.

Vipers and Soltilo Brigh Stars will be meeting for the 20th time in the league with the Venoms superior having won 10 times, drawn 8 with just one loss in the previous 19 encounters, we have scored 19 goals against 6.

Head-To-Head:

Meetings: 19

Vipers wins: 10

Draws: 8

Loss: 1

Goals for: 19

Goals against: 6

Points: 40

Team News:

Milton Karisa has made very good progress since sustaining a hamstring injury in the game against SC Villa last week. Our team captain is not available for tomorrow’s match, but aims to rejoin full training next week.

Marvin Joseph Youngman missed last week’s match against SC Villa after sustaining a strain to the thigh. He is not available for Friday’s match. He will continue to be assessed and rehabilitate the injury with the medical team over the next few days.

Ghanaian Fumador Asiwome, Allan Okello and Hilary Mukundane are still under rehabilitation process and unavailable but are all progressing well and closing in on a return to action.