No room for errors as Vipers host KCCA in top of the table clash

There will be no room for error on both sides as table leaders Vipers SC host Kampala Capital City Authority Football Club in the Azam Uganda Premier League on Friday at the St.Mary’s stadium in Kitende.

Vipers are on top of the 16 team log with 49 points, only one ahead of their visitors who are in third.

A win by the hosts will propel them further whereas KCCA’s win will see them overtake Vipers.

Vipers will be looking to revenge against the Kasasiro boys who won the first game at Lugogo in November.

Tom Masiko will be turning the guns against his former paymasters KCCA on Friday.

“It is difficult to predict how it will go but we are the Venoms and have hope that we shall leave the stadium with a successful result,”Masiko told the Nile Post when asked about Friday’s game.

Team news

KCCA FC will be welcoming back Muzamiru Mutyaba and Derrick Nsibambi who have missed a number of games whereas the Kitende based team will be welcoming back Tadeo Lwanga and Nicholas Wadada who missed the previous game against Masavu for accumulating three yellow cards.

The venoms have not fresh injuries after Yayo Lutimba who had been doubtful was on Thursday morning passed fit for the game but they will miss their head coach Miguel Da Costa who was handed a four man ban over indiscipline by the FUFA Competitions Disciplinary Panel.

What the coaches say

Vipers’ assistant coach Edward Golola is upbeat his team has learnt lessons and rectified mistakes from the first game against Friday’s opponents and will be ready to overturn the previous result.

“In the first round when we faced each other, they were the better side but we went back to the drawing board after that loss and here we are, separated by one point,”Golola said.

“They are having a run to the title as well and we can't overlook that but we want the title more than they do this time."

On the other side, KCCA tactician Mike Mutebi is also not worried about the Vipers test on Friday.

“We are going to play against a team that above us and is playing at home but we shall enough to go there and pick a good result, Mutebi told journalists on Thursday.

Asked whether the game against Vipers is a title decider, Mutebi said to his team, every game is a title decider and matters a lot.

“Every game that the three of us(KCCA, Vipers and SC Villa) play matters but what we have to do is get a better result.”

Key players

The visitors should be wary of Vipers’ Dan ‘Mzee’ Sserunkuuma, Milton Karisa who, if not tamed might cause havoc for the Kasasiro boys.

On the other side, on form Muhammad Shaban and Allan Okello are expected to help propel KCCA past Vipers on Friday.

Form

Vipers have won four out of their previous five games, the latest being the win against fellow Entebbe side Masavu FC 3-1 on Tuesday at home.

Meanwhile, the defending champions have on the other side won twice and drawn three times in their last five games in the Azam Uganda Premier League, the latest being the 7-2 massacre against URA.

Head to head

Prior to the 3-1 loss in November, Vipers had not lost to the Kasasiro boys in their previous six league encounters.

Both teams have met 25 times overall and Vipers have won 10, the same number as KCCA and the teams have drawn five times.

UPL: Vipers vs KCCA FC

Venue: St.Mary’s stadium