UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE
The Date: March 2, 2025
The Contest: Vipers SC vs. Mbarara City FC
The Time: 7pm
The Venue: St Mary’s Stadium
Still grieving the shocking passing of our Nigerian star Abubakar Lawal, Vipers SC will be at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende floodlights when they host Mbarara City FC in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League this Sunday.
The Venoms will be keen on putting up an absolute show which would not only grant them maximum points, but also honour Lawal’s heroic name.
Victory would move Vipers to 43 points at the top of the table, as we currently have 40 after 17 matches, joint top with second-placed NEC FC who beat Lugazi FC last evening. Meanwhile, Mbarara City sit 12th with 20 points.
Just over a week back, the two teams battled it out in the Round of 32 of the Stanbic Uganda Cup, with Vipers comfortable 2-0 victors, courtesy of Yunus Sentamu and Allan Okello.
In the first round in the Uganda Premier League this season, Vipers were 3-1 winners at Kakyeka Stadium, thanks to an Okello brace and one from Sentamu.
Last season at the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, Vipers were emphatic 4-1 victors, courtesy of a Milton Karisa brace and one each from Abubakar Lawal and Karim Watambala. Seiri Arigumaho netted Mbarara City’s consolation.
Vipers commands statistical superiority over Mbarara City in the League with six wins, five draws and two defeats out of the previous 13 meetings, having scored 16 goals against nine.
Head-To-Head: Mbarara City v Vipers
Meetings: 13
Vipers wins:6
Draws: 5
Losses: 2
Goals for: 19
Goals against: 10
Points: 25
Team News:
Hilary Mukundane will miss today’s encounter through suspension having picked up his third yellow card of the Uganda Premier League season in our last league game against KCCA FC.
Isaac Ogwang is out of rehabilitation and now fully focused working on his fitness levels as he steps up his strength and conditioning training. He could be available after the upcoming international break.
Team captain Milton Karisa is facing an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a setback in his recovery from injury.
Forward Annest Ankunda has been ruled out for the rest of the 2024/25 season having suffered a bone fracture in his foot in our last Uganda Cup round of 32 game against Mbarara City FC.
Coach Fred Muhumuza has named our youngster goalkeeper Jack Komakech in today’s matchday squad for the first time since finishing his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exams last year.
Midfielder Abubakali Walusimbi joined the Uganda U17 Boys’ National Team, the Cubs, who officially entered residential camp at the FUFA Technical Center in Njeru as they started preparations for Total Energies CAF U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) that will be hosted Morocco later this month.