By 
A new season of the startimes Uganda Premier League tips-off on Friday as Vipers who are widely known as the Venoms play host to a young Bright Stars team at 4pm in the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
Vipers who have shipped in a couple of names and let out a number still look like favorites to take back the title however much you can not under estimate the other teams in the league like KCCA FC, URA, Express FC among others.
Among the names shipped in is one of Bright Stars best player last season Marvin Youngman. He comes in with alot of experience in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League at his young age.
The other names added onto the list are mostly direct replacements of some players who left the Club like Aziz Kayondo and Paul Willa directly replaced by Isa Mubiru and Ashraf Mandela respectively.
Electric man, Abdul Lumala is expected to bring pace into the side on Friday after his good display already in the CAF Champions League preliminary round already.
Congolese trio of goalkeeper Alfred Macumu Mudekereze who has showed great command in the posts, pac youngster Rodrigue Shamamba and strong midfielder Olivier Osomba if given a chance might all cause harm to the youthful Bright stars.
An experienced Murushid Jjuko from Express Football Club will also have a role to play in the first game and all season long if kept fit but away from the new players, Vipers hold lots of experience, quality and depth in their squad.
Ahead of the game, while talking to the Vipers Media on Thursday, Roberto Oliveira came out to show his readiness saying;
We start tomorrow with an important match against Bright Stars and we have all our attention to it,
I have prepared the team well, with the same style and mentality as last season despite the new faces,” the Brazilian added.
He also expressed his trust in his staff and players most especially his additions concluding;
I trust my team, our new players too. We want to continue building one strong big family and repeat the same (success) as last season.”
In pre-season, the Venoms beat Bright Stars in a friendly at Kitende 4-0 courtesy of two braces from Ibrahim Orit and Yunus Ssentamu.
Vipers will be facing Bright Stars but with their eyes and minds on the CAF Champions League second preliminary round first leg at home against TP Mazembe in a week-time.
A win for Vipers on Friday will mean a new great start for the Venoms at home in Kitende.
On the other side, Brights stars who have just brought in a new head coach in Asaph Mwebaze who will want prove a point after two years of being away from coaching in the Uganda Premier League.
He came into the Wakiso side in July, replacing Paul Kiwanuka who had helped the Club survive relegation in the previous season.
Just like Vipers, Bright Stars have also lost a number of players including like Marvin Youngman who they will be facing on Friday at Vipers but will have also brought in a couple youngsters including their former junior player in Sam Ssenyonjo and former St Mary’s Kitende midfielder Noordin Bunjo.
Among the other players brought into the club were Vipers lonee Bob Olouch, Amis Muwonge, Innocent Kitimbo, Ashiraf Mulindi and Frank Kato.
However much it is seen as a huge task, they side will look to beat the the reigning Champions for the first ever in a number of years.
Team News
On Vipers side, all the players who missed the CAF Champions League preliminary round tie against Olympic De Bangui in Paul Mucureezi, Marvin Joseph Youngman will all be back in the squad just like head Coach Robertinho who will also get back to the touchline after missing the last game.
For Bright Stars, they will be without some players (yet to be named due to lack of linceses) and Frank Kato and Bob Oluoch, they are set to miss because of their loan status from Vipers.
Probable Lineups
SC Vipers
Alfred Macumu Mudekereza (GK), Ashraf Mandela, Isa Mubiru, Livingstone Mulondo, Murushid Juuko, Siraje Ssentamu, Marvin Youngman, Bright Anukani, Cromwel Rwothomio, Milton Karisa, Yunus Sentamu.
Bright Stars FC
Hassan Matovu, Brian Mato, Warren Buule, Fiat Cleophas, Simon Ssemayange, Andy Kyambadde, Yasin Mugume, Ibrahim Kasinde, Denis Kaka, Noordin Bunjo, Sam Ssenyonjo
Head To Head
2021/2022
Vipers 2-1 Bright Stars
Bright Stars 0-1 Vipers SC
2020/21
Bright Stars Fc 0-1 Vipers SC
Vipers SC 2-0 Bright Stars
2019/2020
Bright Stars 1-3 Vipers SC
2018/2019
Vipers SC 3-0 Bright Stars
Bright Stars 0-0 Vipers SC
2017/2018
Vipers SC 3-2 Bright Stars
Bright Stars Fc 0-0 Vipers SC
2016/2017
Bright Stars 0-0 Vipers SC
Vipers SC 1-1 Bright Stars
2015/2016
Bright Stars 0-1 Vipers SC
Vipers SC 1-0 Bright Stars
2014/2015
Bright Stars 0-0 Vipers SC
Vipers SC 0-0 Bright Stars FC
2013/2014
Vipers SC 0-0 Bright Stars
Bright Stars 0-1 Vipers SC
