Vipers plot escape from Prisons to stretch UPL lead

On Wednesday reigning league champions KCCA handed Vipers the initiative at the top of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) following a 1-1 draw with URA at the StarTimes Stadium in Lugogo.

The result which came after KCCA defeated Vipers meant the latter will finish at the top of the 16-team log should they pick all three points in their final first round game against Maroons at the Luzira Prisons Ground this evening.

The Venoms have 33 points, four ahead of second placed Bul with SC Villa a further two points behind and KCCA fourth on 23 but with three games in hand.

“We put the past game behind us and have set a new target coming into this one. We want to play well and collect maximum points and with the return of some players we hope they will inspire the team and rally us back to winning ways,” Vipers head coach Edward Golola stated.

The returning players include captain Halid Lwalirwa and Fahad Bayo, the latter showing what Vipers missed over the past two games with Cranes’ second goal in the 2-0 win over Malawi last Sunday.

Bayo’s impact
The striker has been in fine form scoring eight league goals thus far.
In his absence Vipers lost their unbeaten start in the loss to KCCA, a result Maroons will be looking to build on having also lost their previous game 3-2 to Proline.

Season revelation Steven Mukwala and one of their scorers and who has plundered a league leading 10 league goals thus far will sit this one out with his lone move from Vipers making him ineligible.

Solomon Walusimbi the other scorer on the day could replace Mukwala in the Douglas Bamweyana coached side that could leapfrog Wakiso Giants into sixth position with victory.

The other day’s game also features one of the leading forwards this season in Ben Ochen who will be looking to add to his eight league goals as his Police side play Proline at Lugogo.