Underdogs Vipers ready to bite
New Vipers coach George ‘Best’ Nsimbe instructs his players during the team’s training at Nakivubo yesterday. Vipers face Nigeria’s Enyimba on Friday. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA
What you need to know:
Soccer. Mike Mutyaba reckons underdog status could play in Vipers’ favour in their Caf Champions League duel with Nigeria’s Enyimba
Kampala.
Vipers’ attacker Mike Mutyaba believes his team’s underdog status could work in their favour ahead of their continental bow against Nigerian side Enyimba at Nakivubo on Friday.
The two teams meet in the first leg of the Caf Champions League preliminary round in what will be Vipers’ first appearance on the continent.
Enyimba come into the game with a wealth of experience having won the Cup twice in 2003 and 2004.
Vipers will, however, take courage from Enyimba’s recent continental exploits as the Nigerians have been eliminated at the first round stage in each of the previous two editions.
“Hopefully that (early elimination) puts them under pressure to deliver which could play in our favour. And as the coaches have encouraged us during the week, we shall not compromise our style,” Mutyaba said after the team’s training session at Nakivubo yesterday. The reigning Azam Uganda Premier League champions are not entirely without experience in the competition with Mutyaba having previously played for Sudan’s El Merreikh and DR Congo giants TP Mazembe.
William Wadri also has continental soccer experience under his belt as he was part of the KCCA team in 2013, then coached by current Vipers coach George Nsimbe. KCCA were eliminated by Zambia’s Nkana.
Striker Erisa Sekisambu also featured on the continent with former side URA before crossing to Vipers. Vipers will meanwhile go into the game without first choice goalkeeper Ismail Watenga and defender Shafiq Bakaki while influential forward Farouk Miya has since been sold to Belgian side Stadard Liege.
