Uganda Premier League
Vipers SC vs Mbarara City FC
St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende
Saturday, 14-09-2019 @3pm
Vipers SC will be hoping to maintain their perfect start to the 2019/20 season when they host Mbarara City FC at the St. Mary’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After winning the Super 8, the Venoms have gone on to register back to back victories in their first two games of the Uganda Premier League.
A 3-1 win away to Bright Stars was followed with a 1-0 victory at home to Tooro United and Saturday presents a chance to move onto a perfect 9 points from their first three games.
There is so morale-boosting news in the Vipers camp as head coach Edward Golola has recovered from illness and is expected to return to the dugout. Golola was not present in the victory over Tooro United on match-day two.
However, Farouk Musisi begins his two-match suspension after he was sent off against Tooro United. Innocent Wafula resumed training after overcoming fever but maybe doubtful for this game. This fixture also comes too early for Frank Tuwesigye, Karim Watambara and Shabam Muhammed who are on a recovery path from injury. Henry Kitegenyi is out after picking a leg injury during a practice match midweek.
The good news is that Rashid Toha is fit and could make his Vipers debut against Mbarara City since joining from Onduparaka in July. Aziz Kayondo who missed the Tooro game due to fatigue returns to the team fold and will replace suspended Musisi at left-back.
For Mbarara City, they are in desperate need for points as their form has deteriorated of late.
After an opening day victory over Proline FC, the Ankole Lions have gone on to register just a single point from their last three outings.
A 0-0 draw sandwiched in between losses to both SC Villa and Express is how Mbarara have gone about those three games.
It is understood that interim head coach Brian Ssenyondo was given five games to prove his worth and another loss on Saturday will see him fail to land the job.
Match Facts
This will be the 5th meeting between the two sides ever since Mbarara made their latest return to the top-tier in 2017.
In the previous four meetings, Vipers have gone on two win twice and drawing the other two.
However, the Venoms did not defeat Mbarara last season as both fixtures ended in draws.
The reverse fixture last season ended 1-1.
Vipers come into the game having won all their last five league games, scoring 8 goals whilst conceding just twice.
At home, the Venoms have won five of their last six games with the only exception being the 2-1 loss to URA FC at the back end of last season.
For Mbarara, they have won only two of their last 12 league games (D5 L5).
Away from home, the Ankole Lions have are winless in their last 9 games (D4 L5).
The other games on Saturday (@4pm)
-Wakiso Giants vs Bul FC
-Busoga United vs Onduparaka FC
-Maroons FC vs Bright Stars FC
