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Vipers SC will be seeking to extend their lead atop of StarTimes Uganda Premier League log when they face off with BUL FC at the Kyabazinga Stadium, Bugembe on Wednesday.
The Venoms sit top with 33 points in 15 games, but they face a tricky side away, sitting seventh with 26 points.
The Venoms drew 1-1 with BUL in the first round of this same fixture courtesy of a late equaliser from Simon Peter Oketch.
In their last game, Vipers put three past a struggling SC Villa side at home, in a game that both their main strikers in Yunus Sentamu and Ceasor Manzoki got onto the scoresheet, so Roberto Oliviera will hope for the same inspiration in Jinja.
Before the previous game, Robertinho acknowledged that “BUL is a good team and we have pay attention.” a perception that should not change especially after that late comeback to draw in the first round in Kitende.
BUL FC shipped out eight players, including the club’s top scorer Musa Esenu during the january transfer window but still have plenty of quality in stock considering the players available, including the new arrivals in experienced defender Lawrence Kasadha and evergreen forward Karim Ndugwa.
Alex Isabirye, The head coach at BUL expects to win but however much he doesn’t expect it to be an easy game.
“Vipers is a good team with good coaches as well but we have prepared our players to match them in all aspects.” he said in the pre-match media briefing.
“We have gone close to a month without playing and that may have affected us in one way or the other but I am confident the players know what to do to get the three points tomorrow.”
Captain George Kasonko who has also had great performances against these two sides during his time in Busoga United came out and added;
“We have had enough time to prepare for this game. The coaches have sparingly used it to prepare us well and we now have ninety minutes to show what we have been training. There are targets that we set as a team and we can not meet them without winning.“
“Vipers has often given us hard times but we are now more determined to give our all to win the game because tomorrow is the only opportunity we have to move nearer to our set objectives.”he concluded.
The Venoms have a very good record while facing BUL FC, they have lost only twice in the last ten years. In that period, the Venoms has 11 wins and five draws in 18 games in that period.
Team news
Skipper Saidi Keni (goalkeeper) and centerback Richard Ayiko are the two biggest absentees for BUL due to suspensions. The rest of the squad is available and Isabirye has a huge pool of players to choose from.
For Vipers, Caesar Manzoki is back after recovering from an ankle problem he picked in their last first round game last week against SC Villa but will face a late fitness test.
But the match has come a little too early for midfielder Bobosi Byaruhanga, who is still out nursing an injury.
While new signing Hilary Mukundane makes the 18-man squad to face Bul FC tomorrow. This is the defender’s first time in the match day squad since his move from Mbarara City FC.
Key Stats
In the past 21 league meetings since 2011, this fixture had produced 13 wins for the Venoms, 2 for BUL and the balance of two games being draws.
