Vipers chance to close in on KCCA

Vipers’ in-form midfielder Brian Nkubi will be key in neutralising URA’s Shafiq Kagimu, who inflicted the first bruise on the Venoms at St Mary’s Stadium Kitende in 2017. Photo by Ismail Kezaala & John Batanudde

Kampala- KCCA will remain top of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) standings regardless of whatever comes out of today’s matches but Vipers will look at this as an opportunity to make up.
Vipers welcome URA to St Mary’s, Kitende for one of two Good Friday fixtures knowing that if they falter today, they will further slide away from defending their title.

At 50 points, Vipers are six behind KCCA with four matches to go. Failure for Vipers to pick maximum points against an unpredictable URA would leave Mike Mutebi’s KCCA a clearer run to the title.

KCCA welcome an Express side that never shy from taking on the yellow boys at Lugogo, and coach George Ssimwogerere will be looking to delay any early party by the hosts for as long as he can.

But that can wait until tomorrow. For now, coach Michael Nam Ouma’s Vipers can look to stretching the race with a win over URA.

Midfielder Moses Waiswa, who didn’t make the trip to Mbarara for the previous match, and Halid Lwaliwa are still out for Vipers with injury while Daniel Sserunkuma is suspended. Vipers have, however, been boosted by the return of Yayo Lutimba, who missed the previous match through suspension, and Tito Okello – who bounces back after serving his two weeks suspension by the club for indiscipline.

“The fight is still on,” said Ouma, the Vipers coach, “We want to ensure that we manage our remaining games on a positive note, and we have not lost hope because with four games to go, that is 12 points.

“And the guys ahead, KCCA; they are six points ahead, so anything can happen in the four games. So the battle is still on.
” URA themselves are not coming to Kitende for a picnic. They lost 1-0 to Bright Stars in their last game and captain Shafik Kagimu told his club website they want to cut out the mistakes from the past so as to finish on a high.

Previous meetings
25/01/19: URA 1-1 Vipers
14/03/18: URA 0-1 Vipers
28/11/17: Vipers 1-2 URA
29/04/17: Vipers 1-0 URA
06/09/16: URA 1-1 Vipers
24/05/16: Vipers 1-1 URA
17/11/15: URA 3-2 Vipers

Uganda Premier League
Vipers vs URA
St. Mary’s - 4:00pm (Live on Sanyuka TV)
Bright Stars vs Police
Champions Stadium-Mwererwe, 4:30pm
TOMORROW: Kick off 4:00pm
KCCA vs Express
StarTimes-Lugogo (Live on Sanyuka TV)
Nyamityobora vs Maroons
Kakyeka Stadium, Mbarara
Onduparaka vs Bul
Green Light Stadium, Arua
Tooro vs Mbarara City
Kavumba Recreation Centre, Wakiso