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The 2022-23 Premier League season kicks off on Friday when Solitilo Bright stars travel to Kitende to play against reigning champions Vipers, and it already looks as though the top two available CAF qualification spots on the table will once again be contested by last season’s top two sides.
Having finished 18 points ahead of second placed KCCA FC, defending champions Vipers start the season as title favourites after becoming the fourth successful club in Ugandan football history with SC Villa, Kampala City Council and Express Football Club at the helm.
The other thought of challengers are likely to be Express Football Club, Uganda Revenue Authority Football Club, BUL FC, Express Football Club, Gadaffi Modern Football Club, Wakiso Giants and Arua Hill according to different league stake holders.
The other teams that will compete in the League will be Solitilo Bright Stars, SC Villa , UPDF FC, Busoga United FC, Onduparaka FC, Maroons FC and Blacks Power
To make it clear the League will have an odd number of 15 clubs this season after the elimination of Kyetume Football Club who did not meet up with the requirements to play in the Ugandan top flight league.
But how ready are the top teams for the start of the season? Can anyone get off to a flyer following their preseason campaigns? Or are they unprepared and struggling to find consistency and fitness?
Now that their preseason preparations have been completed, Today, the Touchline sports assesses the 2021/22 season Champions how ready for the campaign? .
SPORTS CLUB VIPERS
The Venoms have taken a different approach to their rivals in preseason which also included their participation in the ongoing CAF Champions League preliminary rounds, with Roberto Oliviera’s side playing just five pre-season games and two CAF Champions League preliminary games ahead of the Uganda League opener against Solitilo Bright Stars this Friday. The squad also started training four weeks earlier than anyone else by reporting back.
Vipers secured three victories in friendlies against their Junior feeder side St. Mary’s School Kitende, Yanga Football Club(Tanzania), Rayon Sports(Rwanda) and Solitilo Bright Stars, they also won their second preliminary round of games between Olympic de Bangui 4-0 on aggregate something that appeared to be an obvious gulf in the fitness and readiness of the Venoms.
They played against Olympic De Bangui in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions in over two legs, winning the first one away from home 3-0 with goals from Najib Yiga and new recruits Isa Mubiru and Abdu Lumala. At home in Kitende, they sealed the victory witn only one which was scored by Yunus Ssentamu to make up a 4-0 aggregate.
On the transfer beat, Vipers have let go of five (5) players in Bobosi Byaruhanga who joined Czech football club – MFK Vyškov, Ceasar Manzoki who left for China’s Dalian Pro on a short term deal, Halid Lwaliwa to North Mercedonia’s FK Bregalnica, Dennis Mwemeezi to the reigning Bul FC side, Allan Kayiwa to Express and Paul Willa who is yet to get a club.
But on the other side, they have brought in eight(9) players into their squad; Marvin Youngman, Isa Mubiru, Ashraf Mandela, Abubakar Lawal, Abdul Lumala, Congolese trio of goalkeeper Alfred Macumu Mudekereze, Rodrigue Shamamba and Olivier Osomba, Murushid Juuko from Express Football Club being the most experienced of them all.
What will these signings bring to this Vipers team?
Alfred Macumu Mudekereze will look to bring more cover and has shown that he’s got better command than the available options in the goalkeeping options at Kitende.
In the defensive department since they had to let go of the Halid Lwaliwa it was wise for the recruitment department to think of bringing in an equally experienced centre back in Murushid Juuko who will offer them physical part and calm down the defence if there is need to.
Murushid Juuko in Vipers training.
For the departures of Paul Willa and Aziz Kayondo mid way last season, the Club has brought in the former players Ashiraf Mandela from URA FC only to make a remark “I left as a boy and comeback as a man” a statement that rose many Vipers fans anxiety and Isa Mubiru fro UPDF FC.
With a number of comparisons of different players to Bobosi Byaruhanga who had his best campaign in the 2021/23, the question all along is can they get a player who can do what he had been offering in the Club’s midfield? With lots of people in Kitende the answer is Yes.
Alot of hope has been laid in another St Mary’s School Kitende Old boy Marvin Joseph Youngman who has shown that he’s capable at different stages the first being the Uganda Premier League stage with Bright Stars in the last two seasons and at the Uganda Cranes level where many thought he might not show up, something he did in good fashion.
He’s not the only addition to that midfield with Vipers adding on Congolese skipper Olivier Osomba who is held in high regard by Head coach Roberto Oliviera and Youngster Rodrigue Shamamba.
On the forward line after the departure of their top goal scorer Cesar Manzoki, Vipers were forced to go bring in two forwards in URA FC top scorer in the previous season Cromwel Rwothomio Abang and Electric man Abdu Lumala who is expected to add pace to this Vipers side.
Cromwel Rwothomio trying to put the ball into the net in Vipers training.
On thing to watch-out for will be if they will score goals for fun as they did last season with forwards Yunus Ssentamu, Milton Karisa, Ibrahim Orit and new recuits Cromwel Rwothomio, Abdu Lumala provision from Bright Anukani, Frank Tumwesigye “Zaga”, Paul Mucuurezi, Olivier Osomba, Najib Yiga, Marvin Youngman and a block of Siraje Ssentamu behind them.
Five SC Vipers players to look at in the upcoming 2022/23 campaign.
Yunus Ssentamu.
The striker who has played two seasons with SC Vipers after return to the country has not scored below 14 goals in two consecutive seasons, scoring 17 in his first season and 14 in the previous campaign. This time round, he will be tasked with scoring more in order to help his team collect maximum points in some games, therefore this will require him to exceed his goal tally of last season.
Murushid Juuko.
He’s a player with vast experience both at home and on the continent. Winning two trophies in two years with his previous employers of Express Football Club. He comes in as a direct replacement of Halid Lwaliwa who has had tremendous game reading abilities over his seven years at the Club. Jjuko will offer cover he will be an integral part of the team.
Marvin Youngman.
One player who has put up excellent display in the last two seasons and this time round will look to put up a great season in the red colours of Kitende. His target will be to first put the fans to his side with a consistent string of good performances with assists control of the game temple something that underrated but always drives a player of his stature. He will play alongside Bright Anukani, Olivier Osomba and Siraje Ssentamu in that Vipers midfeilder.
Milton Kalisa.
He has been named the Vipers lead Captain for the 2022/23 season. He was also was the team’s joint assist King with Cesar Manzoki last season (eight assists). He will look to put up a similar performance blended with more goals compared to the 10 he scored in the previous campaign something he has done on a consistent basics.
Abubaker Lawal.
The 27 year old lanky Nigerian goal scorer who bagged eight goals and 10 assists in all competitions for AS Kigali last season will be one to look at because of his numbers. He will add more numbers in both depth and goals in this Vipers squad.
We await to see if it will be instant fitting in for the new players. Abdu Lumala and Isa Mubiru looked so good in the first leg against Olympic De Bagui both players putting up a goal each in the 3-0 win in Congo Brazzaville. The consistency and Mentality will all play key part.
Sources have told Touchline sports that Vipers’ early start to preseason and reduced workload in terms of friendlies was a strategic decision based on the length of the campaign ahead, which started earlier due to the Champions League preliminary round.
The view at Kitende is that the benefits will pay off towards the end of the season, when the players will be fresher than their rivals. The downside is the risk of a slow start in the Premier League.
VERDICT: Vipers have certainly taken a gamble with their shortened preseason where I think they had no option, but if they can avoid early defeats, they could be stronger than the rest towards the end.
First twelve fixtures.
The games against Wakiso Giants and Arua Hill will be communicated later since the have a tie between TP Mazembe in the the first preliminary round.
NB: For the final squad and numbers, they are not yet out and will be updated here as soon as they are released by the Club.
