Friday, May 5
•Vipers Vs KCCA, Kitende, 7pm
Team News
- Vipers welcome Karim Ndugwa back into the lineup after the forward sat out the Gaddafi game
- The trio of Murushid Juuko, Yunus Sentamu and Alfred Mudekekreza remain long-term absentees
- For KCCA, Rogers Mato back having missed the Onduparaka game
- Brian Aheebwa also returns while Dominic Ayella, Faisal Wabyoona and John Revita are ruled out.
Probable Lineups
Vipers – Fabien Mutombora, Ashraf Mandela, Isa Mubiru, Rogers Torach, Hilary Mukundane, Siraje Sentamu, Bright Anukani, Milton Karisa, Abubakar Lawal, Karim Ndugwa, Martin Kizza
KCCA – Benjamin Ochan, Mustafa Mujuzi, Haruna Lukwago, Mustafa Kizza, Geoffrey Wasswa, Denis Iguma, Ashraf Mugume, Allan Okello, Moses Waiswa, Simon Kankonde, Shaban Muhammad
Preview: Uganda’s El-Classico
Express and SC Villa are the traditional giants and have the Lion’s share of fans, but without doubt, Vipers and KCCA have been the most dominant teams on the local scene for the past few years.
Since the 2012/13 season, the league title has been won by either KCCA or Vipers except for the 2020/21 season which was not played to completion due to Covid19 and won by Express FC.
There are higher chances that this season’s title will be won by either Vipers or KCCA FC.
And that’s makes Friday’s clash at Kitende under floodlights a titanic title decider.
Leaders SC Villa, with 46 points, will be watching this one keenly as a win for KCCA will see them knocked off the summit.
Vipers who are third with 42 points, have played 22 games, one lesser than KCCA on 45 points.
The Venoms beat Gaddafi 2-0 in their last league encounter to return to winning ways having lost 1-0 at Villa previously.
The Gaddafi game was free of charge as the hosts built up for this KCCA clash, and that reflected on the field of play as goals from Abubakar Lawal and Lumala Abdu sealed maximum points.
“The atmosphere for the Gaddafi game was superb, we were aggressive and on the front foot, so we need all those ingredients again to get the win we need,” Vipers coach Alex Isabirye is quoted by the Club website.
“We have a lot of talent and a lot of ability. I believe we’ll get there, and we’re certainly working every minute to get to those consistent levels.”
On facing rivals KCCA, Isabirye said: “They will give me everything they’ve got, you can’t doubt them in terms of application and commitment. They are desperate to change things and push till the last day of the League.”
KCCA come into this one after a stunning 2-2 draw with Onduparaka, a game they led for large parts before late goals by the Visitors.
“We are still in the title race, we drew but its a normal result because even a team at the bottom can come and upset a top team. You saw Villa lost to Maroons, so the title is still alive,” KCCA coach Jackson Mayanja remained unmoved.
“We are going at Kitende to win the game. We need the win and Vipers should wait for us because we are coming to get this job done.
“We are playing on the same pitch, it’s artificial turf. We need to go out there and win. We are not intimidated by them. I know they were in the Champions League but KCCA is a great club and one of the greatest teams. We are going out to attack, there is nothing to hide, we need the result badly.”
Mayanja, a club legend, said that there is need to motivate the players ahead of a big clash this one because it’s magnitude alone is automatically a motivation as every player would love to shine because everyone is always watching.
Mayanja said that unlike Vipers who are in the Uganda Cup semis, the league’s KCCA’s only chance to win Silverware this season and return to the Continent.
Rogers Mato scored the only goal of the game as KCCA beat Vipers at Lugogo in the reverse fixture in October last year.
Head to head
2022/23
Vipers Vs KCCA
KCCA 1-0 Vipers
2021/22
KCCA 1-2 Vipers
Vipers 2-2 KCCA
2020/21
KCCA 1-2 Vipers
Vipers 1-0 KCCA
2019/20
Vipers 0-0 KCCA
KCCA 1-0 Vipers
2018/19
KCCA 1-1 Vipers
Vipers 1-1 KCCA
2017/18
Vipers 3-2 KCCA
KCCA 3-1 Vipers
2016/17
KCCA 1-2 Vipers
Vipers 2-1 KCCA
2015/16
KCCA 0-0 Vipers
Vipers 2-2 KCCA
2014/15
KCCA 0-2 Vipers
Vipers 2-2 KCCA
2013/15
KCCA 2-1 Vipers
Vipers 2-1 KCCA
2012/13
KCCA 1-0 Vipera
Vipers 2-1 KCCA
2011/12
Vipers 2-1 KCCA
KCCA 0-1 Vipers
