‘Underdogs’ Proline out to shock Vipers
Bunjo (L) and his youthful Proline teammates will relish the prospect of throwing the kitchen sink to returning Tumwesigye and Vipers. PHOTOS BY JOHN BATANUDDE
One of the defining stories of Proline’s last season’s fairytale run to winning their maiden Uganda Cup was the memorable 2-1 win over Vipers at the quarterfinal stage at StarTimes Stadium.
Fast forward today, Shafiq Bisaso’s Proline returns to the same venue to face the same desperate opponent in the Pilsner Super Eight Tourney.
Aware of the changed and hungry outfit that Vipers are at the moment and the monetary value of lifting the eight-team tourney, Bisaso insists that his club has what it takes to get past the three-time league winners now under Edward Golola. “It is going to be a good game.
It will give us a test of what we will find at the continent (in the Caf Confederations Cup),” he told Daily Monitor yesterday. He added; “We are not looking at the last win because Vipers has new players and new coaches. We are going to unleash new faces like Hamis Kizza.”
Having gained another layer of fortification from the recent Cecafa adventure, the Uganda Cup and Fufa Big league winners have also raided the transfer market and shopped Andrew Isiagi Okiring, Bernard Muwanga, Shatif Magoola, Yusuf Mukisa and Sula Ssekamwa to gain the enviable squad depth and experience.
Four-day camp
Proline skipper Noordin Bunjo believes the team’s four-day camp at Fufa Technical Centre in Njeru will come in handy. “We have been in camp since Friday preparing for this match and Caf, the four days we have spent in camp make us ready for Vipers.
“We are not going to prove to Vipers that they can’t revenge but we are going to give them respect and try to win,” revealed the former Kitende playmaker.
Whereas Bunjo, Bright Anukani,Sam Kintu will be charged with stopping Vipers midfield from creating chances, Ivan Bogere, Ibrahim Bonyo and Hakim Kiwanuka will hunt for the goals.
Since replacing sacked Kenyan coach Michael Nam Ouma last week, Golola has been sharpening his team for this tourney hoping to give new faces like Paul Willa, Siraje Sentamu and Allan Kayiwa and a couple of academy graduates a chance to impress.
TODAY - PILSNER SUPER EIGHT CUP
*Proline vs. Vipers, 4pm
Star Times Stadium, Lugogo
TOMORROW
*Wakiso Giants vs. KCCA, Wakisha Stadium
Friday
*Mbarara City vs. URA, Kakyeka Stadium
Sunday
*Onduparaka vs. Tooro United, GreenLight
Prize money
Winner: Shs20m, Runner up: Shs12m,
Second runner-up: Shs10m, Fourth: Shs8m,
Fifth: Shs6m, Sixth: Shs5m, Seventh: Shs4m,
Eighth: Shs3m
