Saturday, June 3
•Police Vs Vipers – 3pm
Vipers have a chance to take a double when they face off with Police in the Stanbic Uganda Cup final at Akii-bua Stadium in Lira.
The Venoms come into this fixture a week after sealing the Uganda Premier League title on a dramatic final day that saw SC Villa fall to URA at Wankulukuku.
And a win in Lira will see Vipers join an elite category of teams like SC Villa, KCCA and Express to have won a double (league and Uganda Cup in the same season).
This is Vipers’ third attempt to go for a double – They fell short in 2018 when they lost the Uganda Cup final against KCCA who won 1-0 in Bukedea.
They were league champions when they went into last season’s final which they lost 3-1 against BUL in Masindi.
It’s been a mixed season for the Venoms who earlier played in the CAF Champions League group stages.
But their season went on a downward spiral entering into the second round when they went a couple of games without scoring a goal.
And that resulted into back to back sackings of coaches Roberto Oliviera and Beto Bianchi in that order, before bringing in Alex Isabirye.
And their Stanbic Uganda Cup journey hasn’t been convincing after needing penalty shootouts on three successive occasions to go through.
Police on the other hand, will hope to use Uganda Cup success to mend their season after failing to earn top flight promotion.
They finished fourth in FUFA Big League, behind promoted Kitara, Mbarara City and NEC.
Despite being a Big League side, coach Angelo Lonyesi will feel that his side can match Vipers’ quality.
They retained a couple of players after suffering UPL promotion a season back, with the likes of Davis Mutebi, Joseph Ssentume, Samuel Kayongo and Herman Wasswa among others.
Police has never won the Uganda Cup and will be riding on the third-time lucky charm after losing two finals.
They were beaten 1-0 by SC Villa in 2000 before 3-1 loss against Express in 2002/3 final.
Facts
- Karim Ndugwa will hope to win a successive Uganda Cup gold medal having won it last season with BUL
- Vipers beat Police 2-0 at the 2021 semis in Njeru (goals by Caesar Manzoki) in their last meeting in Uganda Cup.
Probable Lineups
Police – Davis Mutebi, Joseph Sentume, Martin Owalamu, George Kiryowa, Daniel Jakony, Samuel Kayongo, Timothy Muwanguzi, Dennis Kalanzi, Herman Wasswa, Reagan Male, Emmanuel Mugume
Vipers – Fabien Mutombora, Ashraf Mandela, Isa Mubiru, Rogers Torach, Hilary Mukundane, Siraje Sentamu, Bright Anukani, Abubakar Lawal, Yunus Sentamu, Milton Karisa, Martin Ndugwa
Road to Final:
Vipers
R64: Bujjumbura (6-4 pen)
R32: Jinja North (7-6 pen)
R16: Wakiso Giants (4-3 pen)
R8: Calvary (4-1)
R4: Bright Stars (4-1 agg)
Police
R64: Aputuun (1-0)
R32: Pajule Lions (2-0)
R16: Ndejje University(2-0)
R8: BUL (2-1)
R4: Adjumani TC (2-2, away goals rule)
The Breakdown:
•Winner – 50 million (1 team)
•Runner Up – 25 million (1 team)
•Semi Finalists – 12.5 million each (2 teams)
•Quarter Finalists – 6 million each (4 teams)
•Round of 16 – 3 million each (8 teams)
•Round of 32 – 2 million each (16 teams)
*TOTAL – 180 million (32 teams)
Most Uganda Cup Titles
10 – KCCA, Express
9 – SC Villa
3- URA
2 – Simba, Coffee, Mbale, Victors, Vipers
1 – UEB, Nsambya Old Tymers, Victoria University, Proline, BUL
Uganda Cup Past Winners Since 2000
2000 – SC Villa
2001 – Express
2002 – SC Villa
2003 – Express
2004 – KCCA FC
2005 – URA
2006 – Express
2006/07 – Express
2007/08 – Victors
2008/09 – SC Villa
2009/10 – Victors
2010/11 – Simba
2011/12 – URA
2012/13 – Victoria University
2013/14 – URA FC
2014/15 – SC Villa
2015/16 – Vipers SC
2017 – KCCA FC
2018 – KCCA FC
2019 – Proline
2019/20 – Null and Void
2020/21 – Vipers
2021/22 – BUL
2022/23 – ???
