Vipers cannot afford slip up against URA as Police entertain Bright Stars

Football games keep growing in stature and importance, as the Uganda Premier League season draws to an end.

On match day 27, defending champions Vipers host third placed Uganda Revenue Authority at the St Mary’s stadium, Kitende while Bright Stars entertain Police at the Champions Stadium in Mwereerwe.

VIPERS HOST URA.
Vipers cannot afford any more slip ups as of now, with their hopes of defending hanging by the thread when bogey side URA visit Kitende.

Playing 24 hours ahead of title rivals KCCA who host Express on Saturday, the Venoms have a chance of slimming the gap to just three points with two games to go. However, if they lose and KCCA win, the 2018/19 race will be over for them.

And a game against Sam Ssimbwa’s URA at this time of the season would be the last thing coach Micheal Nam Ouma needs especially that the Tax Collectors hold such an impressive record against their hosts.

URA were the first team to defeat Vipers in the league at their Kitende fortress last season and already boast the most impressive away record in the league as they are yet to test defeat on the road with KCCA also falling to them recently.

Further, Ssimbwa’s men have been as defensively organized as they have been impressive on their travels. Conceding just 12 goals from 26 matches; in fact they have not conceded more than once in 30 games.

In contrast, the Venoms head into the game off the back of unimpressive displays, winning just twice in their last five matches but more worryingly they have scored just 13 goals in the last 11 league outings despite netting 22 in their opening 15 games.

However, they have been lethal at home, winning 10 out of their 13 home league games, drawing just twice and were the last team to lose at home this season. And will fancy their chances given that URA lost their last game against Bright Stars.

Club top scorer Dan ‘Muzeeyi’ Sserunkuuma could be back to lead upfront for the hosts as well as Fufa Player of the Year Moses Waisswa who has recently been overlooked in midfield. URA captain Shafik Kagimu holds the key for the visitors and goalkeeper James Alitho could miss out on the return to his former club.

Both teams have won twice in the last 11 league meetings with the rest ending in stalemates.

BRIGHT STARS LOOK TO REVENGE AGAINST POLICE.

Mwereerwe will play host to the other match of the day when Bright Stars host Police, seeking to avenge their first-round defeat against the Cops. Simon Mbaziira’s goal the decider in that one.

Abdalla Mubiru’s side are ninth on the table, two points ahead of their hosts who are 10th but all attention will be on Bright Stars Captain Nelson Senkatuuka and league top scorer Juma Balinnya who might be decisive for their respective teams.

Both teams come into this one on the back of impressive wins; Police got their first win over Onduparaka at Lugogo thanks to a superb Juma Balinnya brace while Nelson Senkatuka inspired Bright Stars to a rare 1-0 away win over URA at Namboole.