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It will be a battle of supremacy as second placed Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) FC hosts top placed Vipers SC at the Arena of Visions, Ndejje University in the early kick-off StarTimes Uganda Premier League game on Saturday afternoon.
With both sides on 30 points, it is goal difference that separates the two with the Venoms (19) sitting just onto of the tax collectors (11) with just a eight more goals.
Both teams come into this fixture booming with confidence after Vipers humbled SC Villa 3-0, at the St.Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, while URA FC traveled to the MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo and outclassed Police FC 2-0.
Victory for either side could take three points over the other and subsequently tightening their grip at the summit of the log.
This fixture will serve as a reunion between Siraje Sentamu and URA as the Midfielder will be returning to Ndejje to face his former paymasters.
Team News
Vipers SC head coach Fred Kajoba will be bolstered by the return of Abraham Ndugwa who is available for selection after shaking off an Injury.
Richard Basangwa, Bobosi Byaruhanga and Aziz Kayondo are also in line for a return to league action, having missed a couple of games as they were with the Uganda Hippos team in Mauritania for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Rashid Toha and Paul Willa are out with accumulation of three yellow cards each which forces them to sit out with a one match suspension.
For URA FC, they will still be without Jackson Nunda, Alionzi Nafian, Julius Mutyaba and Joachim Ojera who are still out, struggling with injuries.
Key stats
Vipers and URA will be meeting for the 31st time in Uganda’s league history since 2006 when the Venoms joined the top flight division. URA hold the advantage, having won 13 of them, Vipers 6 while 11 have ended into stalemates
At URA, the Venoms have won just 3 and drawn 8 of their 15 meetings so far there.
Last season at the Arena of Visions, URA defeated Vipers 3-1 with Saidi Kyeyune, Daniel Isiagi and Cromwell Rwothomio scoring for the tax collectors while the Venoms consolation came through Fahad Bayo.
Vipers last victory against URA away from home came in the 2017/18 when Erisa Ssekisambu netted from the spot at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
No team in the Uganda’s top-flight holds a better record against Vipers than URA as the Tax Collectors are the Venoms’ worst versed side since 2006.
Vipers seek to return to winning ways on the road , having lost their last away outing to Mbarara City 1-0 at the Kakyeka Stadium, Mbarara which was also their first league loss.
The tax collectors haven’t been that superb at home this season, having won just three of their opening six games there. Two have ended in stalemates, and important to note, there only defeat this season came at home against Express FC.
Past 5 meetings at URA’s home
- 2015/16:- URA 3-2 Vipers
- 2016/17:- URA 1-1 Vipers
- 2017/18:- URA 0-1 Vipers
- 2018/19:- URA 1-1 Vipers
- 2019/20:- URA 3-1 Vipers
What the coaches said
“There is no better timing for this fixture than Saturday; we are well prepared to face one of the best sides in the league. Our confidence at this point is high after picking good results against Villa. We know it will be a close contest but we are up for the task,” Fred Kajoba said.
