Uganda Premier League
Vipers SC 7-0 MYDA FC
St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende
Saturday, 06-02-2021
Yunus Ssentamu and Paul Mucurezi each scored twice as Vipers SC dismantled MYDA FC 7-0 in the Uganda Premier League match played on Saturday afternoon.
Ssentamu who was making his debut since returning to the club a few weeks ago, scored twice in the opening 29 minutes, poking home a rebound and then bundling in from close range.
Mucurezi who has now scored four goals this campaign finished off two brilliant team moves on the 44th and 60th minutes.
The other goals scored by Ceaser Manzoki, Disan Galiwango and substitute Ibrahim Orit to complete the humiliation.
The result means that Fred Kajoba’s side now climbs into third with 10 points from four games.
For MYDA, they stay in 15th with just a single point from their first five games.
Wasteful Vipers schools poor MYDA
Vipers have been one of the best sides in Ugandan football for over half-a-decade now and always come into the season as favourites to win the title.
After collecting seven points from their opening three games, Saturday presented them with another opportunity to improve their tally.
Against a side that had conceded three goals in each of their opening four games, the Venoms knew that it was an opportunity to improve their goal difference by scoring as many as they could.
Ssentamu who was signed a couple of weeks ago was handed a first start ahead of veteran striker Dan Sserunkuma and did not disappoint.
He was in the right spot to tap home the opener after both Manzoki and Mucurezi had forced MYDA custodian Isaac Osikol into fine saves, in quick succession.
The former Uganda Cranes-CHAN star then bundled home from a Disan Galiwango low cross to make it 2-0.
From there on wards, it was more about how many Vipers would score and not if they could add another one.
Congolese import Manzoki who had looked lively and full of energy throughout the afternoon, joined in on the party as he headed neatly, into the back of the net, via an Ibrahim Kayiwa well-weighted from the right.
At the stroke of halftime, Mucurezi combined with both Ssentamu and Manzoki before the latter’s pass put him through on goal to round the keeper and poke into an empty net for the fourth.
Muzurezi who would later be replaced by Ibrahim Orit, netted his second at the hour mark, making a late run into the box to collect from Manzoki and tap into an empty net after the Congolese had raced onto a David Bagoole through ball.
With the game in it’s final five minutes, Galiwango benefited from a short corner, dribbled his way into the box before shooting past Osikol, at the near post, for 6-0.
The last was to be scored by Orit who fired in from just inside the area after collecting from the impressive Bagoole.
On a day that Vipers created chance after chance, they could have scored more but for their lethargic finishing.
Manzoki headed Galiwango’s cross wide before Osikol parried a low cross to safety and Ssentamu then failed to find the neat after he was sent on his way by Ibrahim Kayiwa.
Ssentamu will have only himself to blame for not completing a first half hat trick after he twice failed to beat Osikol while one on one with the custodian.
MYDA headed back down?
It is always hard for a team to find its feet-early in their maiden season in top flight football and more often than not, such clubs end up relegated.
That is the same fate MYDA FC look to be destined for if results in their first five games are to go by.
The Malaba based side who breezed through the FUFA Big League last season have had a nightmare start to life in the top tier.
Having collected just a single point and conceded as many as 12 goals, they went to Kitende hoping to produce the shock of the season and get something out of the game.
Form the onset, it looked like a mission which would be impossible as Vipers imposed their will onto them.
Goalkeeper Isaac Osikol was, as expected, their standout performer on the day as he twice denied Ssentamu in a one on one situation.
Osikol made more saves, expertly pushing away Abraham Ndugwa’s firce drive, late in the second half.
However, not even the captain could save his side as Ssentamu beat him twice in the opening 29 minutes.
In what has been a baptism of fire for Abdusamadu Musafiri’s side, the only positive has been the form of striker Ibrahim Nsimbi.
Having netted five times in his first four UPL games, the 22-year old found life hard at Kitende as his side rarely got forward.
His speculative effort mid-day the opening half could not trouble Denis Kiggundu in the Venom’s goal.
Moses Batali also had a half chance to net for the visitors but his headed effort from a Fred Okot corner went wide of the target.
In there next fixtures, Vipers are away to Express FC on Tuesday before hosting UPDF FC next Saturday. MYDA on the other hand visit SC Villa.
How both teams started
Vipers SC
Denis Kiggundu (GK), Joseph Dhata, Disan Galiwango, Livingston Mulondo, Halid Lwaliwa (C), Siraje Ssentamu, David Bagoole, Paul Mucurezi, Ibrahim Kayiwa, Ceaser Manzoki, Yunus Ssentamu.
MYDA FC
Isaac Osikol (GK) (C), Fred Okot, Dickson Owuta, Peter Musoke, Amos Etojo, Yusuf Bagoth, Mark Basi, Moses Batali, Rashid Mpaata, Norman Ojik, Ibrahim Nsimbe.
