Vipers duel kick starts KCCA’s final title assault

What you need to know:

Soccer. KCCA has beaten Vipers just once in the last seven league meetings and Mutebi reckons the difference will
be made by players not the Venom’s new Portuguese coach Jorge Miguel da Costa.

KAMPALA

The title credentials and resolve of Uganda Premier League (UPL) log leaders KCCA to retain the trophy will be sternly tested by Vipers this afternoon at Lugogo in a ‘clash of the titans’ epic fixture.

Having missed a chance to scamper away from contenders Villa on Saturday, KCCA manager Mike Mutebi says they target getting maximum points from the remaining seven games to seal the league triumph.

“The Villa draw was a drawback because we were leading (when Villa eventually equalized). We are working on comeback by rotating our players depending on demand in the remaining seven fixtures,” Mutebi told Daily Monitor yesterday at Lugogo.

With a fully fit squad at his disposal, Mutebi, who lost 2-1 to Vipers in the first round at Nakivubo, expects a mammoth between the two league giants, the visitors’ recent wretched form notwithstanding.

“Vipers are an emerging force in Ugandan football and so it’s going to be a tough game. They are going to give us a very good challenge.

“It is important that the good players at these two clubs play entertaining football for the fans so that they continue coming back to the stadia,” he added.

KCCA has beaten Vipers just once in the last seven league meetings and Mutebi reckons the difference will be made by players not the Venom’s new Portuguese coach Jorge Miguel da Costa.

“It is about the players. On the day when they come to play, we expect a strong challenge. I don’t think the coach has made a big change yet on the team in short time,” he added.

Speaking to the club website ahead of the massive game, Costa warned; “We are good to go, the squad is competitive and in good shape. All players are fine and ready to give their all.”

Apart from seeking a respectable finish and undergoing a complete overhaul, the Portuguese wants to implement his ‘style’ in the side as he plans for an explosive next season.

“We are not going to Philip Omondi to defend, we want to be the first side this season to inflict a home defeat on KCCA FC in the league,” he asserted.

KCCA, yet to lose at home this campaign, are tied on 48 points with Villa that has played three games more while Vipers sit fifth.