STARTIMES UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE
The Date: December 7th, 2023
The Contest: Vipers SC vs. Kitara FC
The Time: 7pm
The Venue: St Mary’s Stadium
In a bid to make it three Uganda Premier League victories on the bounce, Vipers SC will play host to Kitara FC at the St Mary’s Stadium, floodlights on Thursday.
The Venoms have won each of their previous two games; 2-0 and 1-0 over URA FC and UPDF FC, respectively and will want to extend that excellent run.
However, it doesn’t promise to be a walk in the park as the game presents second against third on the 16 league log.
While Vipers sit second with 20 points, Kitara follow closely in third with 19 points, and tomorrow’s winner will close in on leaders BUL FC, who are on 25 points.
Vipers v Kitara: Head-To-Head
Neiva’s side head into the match as favourites having won all in their last four meetings in all competitions. Kitara lost 3-1 and 2-1 to Vipers before in the Uganda Cup (2016/17) and 3-0 and 2-1 in the league respectively.
Previously in the league, Vipers and Kitara have met just two times and we won both encounters.
Paul Mucureezi and Dan Sserunkuma were on target for the Venoms in our first ever League meeting with Kitara in 2020 at Kitende.
In the reverse fixture away, we comfortably won 3-0, courtesy of a Yunus Sentamu brace and one from Mucureezi.
The latter has since crossed to the opposite direction and has established himself as a stalwart at the club.
Mucureezi won’t be the only familiar face in the Kitara roaster, with the other being Frank ‘Zaga’ Tumwesigye. Najib Yiga who features for the Royals is on loan for the Venoms.
Team News:
Abubakar Lawal resumed training with the rest of the team this week. The Nigerian missed the trip to Bombo on Sunday with a fever.
Patrick Mbowa was granted compassionate leave last week to finish his university exams and will return on Saturday.
Apart from long term absentees; Hilary Mukundane and Alfred Mudekereza, Neiva has a fully fit squad to choose from his 23 man squad.