Vipers dare an almighty feat
Venom. Dan Sserunkuma can give Vipers hope if he scores in Tunisia. Photo by John Batanudde
What you need to know:
- Sfaxien veteran Dutch coach Ruud Krol promised a different game in Tunisia.
Kampala. For Vipers, just about everything will have to be a first tonight for them to proceed in the Caf Confederation Cup.
The Ugandans will have to win away from home for the first time for them to make the group stage of the competition - yes, for the first time too.
They admit their rookie-self in this high level competition but then again, they are also believers.
Everything starts somewhere, and Vipers; despite the forgettable missed chances to win the first leg at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende last weekend, have indeed started somewhere.
Their first leg goalless draw against Tunisian giants Sfaxien gave them a fighting chance to progress tonight.
“The only thing that I will now ensure is they find the back of the net,” said Vipers Kenyan coach Michael Nam Ouma.
“We will see what comes. Of course we have very high hopes of progressing.”
Apart from Vipers unimpressive travels, they will also come up wintry conditions but striker Daniel Sserunkuma believes that will not affect them.
“I think in Constantine it was much colder (so), it’s not surprise for us,” said the man who is expected to lead the attack in Tunisia.
The Venoms lost that one in Algeria 1-0 before leaking two more at home to drop from the Caf Champions League to the Confederation Cup.
For Vipers to defy odds in Tunisia and progress, they need a score draw or any victory. A goalless draw would send the tie to spot kicks.
Vipers have previously drawn away from home, a 1-1 stalemate against Volcan Club in Comoros in 2017 in the preliminary round of the Confederation Cup.
Apart from that they have lost their ties away in South Africa, Nigeria and Algeria. The Venoms will draw positives from their first leg, where they created several chances despite majorly being kept out by Sfaxien goalkeeper Ayman Dahmen.
Sfaxien veteran Dutch coach Ruud Krol promised a different game in Tunisia.
And Sserunkuma, Tito Okello, Moses Waiswa and, especially goalkeeper Fabien Mutombora, will have to put up their A game to defy that and draft their own history.
Vipers probable XI: Fabien Mutombora (goalkeeper), Ibrahim Kiyemba, Aggrey Madoi, Livingstone Mulondo, Halid Lwaliwa, Geoffrey Wasswa, Abraham Ndugwa, Tadeo Lwanga (Captain), Tito Okello, Moses Waiswa, Dan Sserunkuma.
