Wednesday, March 17
*Vipers SC vs KCCA FC @4pm – St. Mary’s Stadium (Live on Sanyuka TV)
*Onduparaka FC vs URA FC @4pm – Green Light Stadium.
*Bright Stars FC vs SC Villa @4pm – Kavumba Recreation Grounds.
*Mbarara City FC vs BUL FC @4pm – Kakyeka Stadium.
Team News
•Vipers welcome back Aziz Kayondo who is expected to make the team for the first time since returning from the U20 AFCON.
•Najib Yiga is still out due to an injury he sustained in Mauritania with the Hippos.
•The Venoms are boosted with the return of Paul Willa and Rashid Toha who were suspended for the last game.
•Abraham Ndugwa and Shaban Mohammad are also fit and expected to be available for Selection.•KCCA will be without the injured Filbert Obenchan who is out with a head injury.
•This game also comes too early for Julius Poloto and John Revita who are still recovering from injuries. The pair are undergoing rehabilitation.
•Juma Balinya, Moses Aliro, Samuel Ssenyonjo and Mazengo Stefano are ruled out injured.
•Steven Sserwadda, Kizza Bukenya and Andrew Kawooya are part of the squad that will travel to Kitende for the last game of the first round.
Probable Lineups
Vipers SC – Fabian Mutombora (GK), Paul Willa, Rashid Toha, Halid Lwaliwa, Disan Galiwango, Siraje Sentamu, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Karim Watambala, Ibrahim Orit, Yunus Sentamu, Dan Sserunkuma.
KCCA FC – Charles Lukwago (GK), Samuel Kato, Peter Magambo, Herbert Achai, Ashraf Mugume, Steven Sserwadda, Gift Ali, Bright Anukani, Samson Kigozi, Charles Lwanga, Sadat Anaku.
Preview – Gigantic Battle In Kitende
The two best sides in Ugandan football for the last few years meet once again on Wednesday.
Vipers who came into the season as favourites will be looking for a reaction after losing to URA FC, their second loss of the season.
Starting the day in 3rd spot, the Venoms will be desperate for points as they risk falling as many as six points behind the leaders if they lose and URA takes care of business in their visit to Onduparaka FC on the same day.
Fred Kajoba’s side have found the going a bit hard of late as they have won only one of their past three games, losing the other two.
But that should not be a big concern as they are returning home, a place where they have been in excellent form since the season started, winning all their games there.
The return of Bobosi Byaruhanga helps stabilise the team more although they need to put away the chances they create especially in the first half, if they are to take care of a KCCA side that will also be gunning for maximum points.
The Kasasiro Boys are also out for victory after failing to win in their last game.
After a poor first half, Mike Mutebi’s side hand Sadat Anaku to thank as the forward netted late in the second half to salvage a point for them.
After an indifferent start to the campaign that saw them lose three successive games, at one point, KCCA are surprisingly 4th on the table with 27 points, six behind URA in first place.
They head into Wednesday’s game full of confidence having not lost in their last eight encounters (W5 D3).
The return of Gift Ali looks to have stabilised the team better as it give the like of Ashraf Mugume and Bright Anukani more licence to move forward and affect the game in the final third.
With Steven Sserwadda also returning after a successful showing in Mauritania with the Hippos, KCCA sees their creativity improved immensely and will clearly ask serious questions of the Vipers rearguard.
It is a game that Mutebi’s side clearly can not afford to lose as it all but ends their hopes of contending for the crown this season.
The Stats
This will be the 22nd meeting between the two sides since September 2010.
In the past 21 meetings, Vipers have the upper hand with eight victories, KCCA have six while the other seven games have all ended in draws.
KCCA come into the contest unbeaten in their last five games against Vipers, winning two and drawing the other three.
Last season, KCCA took five points off Vipers including one in a 0-0 draw at Kitende.
How To Watch
The game will be live on Sanyuka TV at 4pm.
