STANBIC UGANDA CUP | R-32
The Date: February 20, 2025
The Contest: Vipers SC vs. Mbarara City FC
The Time: 7pm
The Venue: St Mary’s Stadium
Vipers SC will be back at home in the Round of 32 of the Stanbic Uganda Cup when they host Mbarara City FC at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende this Thursday.
The Cup engagement comes days after the Venoms got triumphant in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League when they beat KCCA FC on Sunday, thanks to strikes from Yunus Sentamu and Allan Okello.
Co-head coach Fred Muhumuza has underlined the importance of transferring the League form into the Uganda Cup, even with the expected rotation.
“Vipers SC as a club has a wide squad. So, to remain competitive, it’s better to remain on two fronts (Uganda cup and the League). So, it’s the reason we prioritise it more,” he told Vipers Media.
“Uganda Cup is a priority but we have a rather competitive squad so everyone is equally ready for the task ahead.”
To make the Round of 32, Vipers needed to grind hard as they edged FUFA Regional League side Teso Progress Academy (TEPA) FC 2-1, courtesy of a Livingstone Mulondo brace.
“Cup games are very tricky, tough and competitive mainly against sides we hardly know of. It was so difficult playing against Tepa FC in Ngora under heavy rains,” said Muhumuza.
On the other hand, Mbarara City needed a 5-3 post-match penalty shootout victory to eliminate FUFA Regional League side Junior Eagles in the preceding round. It had ended 0-0 in the 90 minutes.
Vipers and Mbarara City have already met this season in the first round of the Uganda Premier League, with the former emerging 3-1 victors at Kakyeka Stadium. An Allan Okello brace and one from Yunus Sentamu handed Vipers maximum points on enemy territory.
Muhumuza expects stout opposition from Mbarara City; “It’s a UPL team with a great coach, a very competitive squad and good tactical organisation as a team with good energy levels and individual abilities.”
Last season at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, Vipers were comfortable 4-1 winners, thanks to a Milton Karisa brace and one apiece from Karim Watambala and Abubakar Lawal, in the League.
In the team news, Muhumuza confirmed that the injured duo of Milton Karisa and Isaac Ogwang had stepped up their recovery process.
“Milton and Ogwang are recovering well and the medical department is doing a tremendous job in helping them to recover and join the team.”