Villa expose Vipers’ flaws to open up UPL title race

Villa striker Bashir Mutanda celebrates his goal against Vipers with teammates on Friday. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO

Just when everybody anticipated Uganda Premier League table leaders Vipers to balloon their lead at the top, desperate visitors SC Villa brought them back on earth crushing them on Friday at St Mary’s Stadium.
Villa’s laboured 1-0 victory, their successive triumph in Kitende, was a rude reminder to Edward Golola’s boys of what awaits them in the second round as they bid to win their fourth league title.
Both side exercised caution in the first half until Bashir Mutanda headed home Derrick Ndahiro’s well weighed cross on 53 minutes.

Golola the tinkerman
For the third straight match, Vipers were making changes in the starting team which impacted in their flow and the commanding stance exposed in the 4-2 triumph over Proline three days before had all vanished in air.
Forwards Fahd Bayo, Paul Mucureezi and Allan Kayiwa barely threatened Villa while substitutes Dan Sserunkuma and Denis Mwemezi took ages to get into the groove.
“We started on a low note and the boys tried to change their attitude in second half. We missed open chances but I must admit, the title race is still open,” Vipers coach Golola told Sunday Monitor.
He refused to blame his custodian Fabien Mutombora for fumbling with Mutanda’s header but rather noted the ‘huge job’ on their hands to bolster the team in the coming matches.

Sweet Jogoos win
Villa had lost two consecutive matches in the second round but rallied all their energies to stun Vipers before their bewildered fans.
“It was a good win given that we lost the first two matches. The boys were nervous in the start but worked according to instructions. We had two holding midfielders and we closed spaces in the midfield. We failed Vipers to play their game,” Villa coach Edward Kaziba revealed.
He added: “We want to get a good position and we will keep on playing with vigour. I told Mutanda that he must start scoring and I am happy for him. We are getting used to winning whenever we meet Vipers.”

KCCA labour to beat Tooro
At Lugogo, the latest player from KCCA’s production line ensured they took advantage of Vipers slip to go within four points in another laboured 1-0 win this time over Tooro. Sunday Opio, marked his full debut with the game’s only goal prodding home after Tooro failed to clear a corner on 16 minutes.
But the subsequent goal glut many of the fans at the StarTimes ground anticipated never materialised as Tooro improved as the game progressed. Tooro coach Muhammad Kisekka will view that as a positive having again struggled to raise player licenses.