STANBIC UGANDA CUP | QUARTERS
Friday, April 14th, 2023 | 3pm
Vipers SC v Calvary FC
St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende
Vipers SC will be seeking to progress to the semifinals of the ongoing Stanbic Uganda Cup when they welcome Calvary FC in a Quarterfinal game at Kitende on Friday.
The Venoms have been some how lucky in this year’s Uganda Cup to reach this far.
They needed penalty shootouts on three occasions starting with Bujumbura United at the round of 64 and Jinja North United at the subsequent round of 32.
And their latest was a 4-3 win in penalties over Wakiso Giants in Round of 16 in what was Alex Isabirye’s first game at Vipers last month.
“We have been struggling in the past games but we are now on the right track as you can see in our recent game,” Isabirye noted.
“It won’t be an easy game as there is no small team that reached the quarter finals but my team is ready for the task ahead.”
Against Calvary, Vipers will be seeking to continue with their journey in the Uganda Cup as they target a third consecutive final.
They picked a 2-0 win over Blacks Power last week under the floodlights on a day Isabirye picked his first ever league win.
And they bank on that as well as their home advantage to get the job done against the FUFA Big League side.
The good news is that their Captain Milton Karisa is back, having missed the previous game against Blacks Power, and Livingston Mulondo is also fully fit.
However, Isabirye will be without a number of key players including Bright Anukani (fever), Siraje Sentamu, Karim Watambala, Lutumba Michael Nzau, Murushid Juuko and Alfred Mudekereza.
On the other hand, the visitors, Calvary FC will be seeking to hurt the Venoms at their home in Kitende.
The FUFA Big League side have enjoyed a good journey in this year’s Uganda Cup.
They ejected another Big League side Kitara FC 8-7 on penalties to reach this stage.
Before that win, they had beaten Bunyaruguru United and JLO FC respectively to reach this far.
And on Friday, they face an uphill task with their visit to Kitende and they will have to double efforts unlike their previous opponents they have met this year.
They are currently fifth in Big league with 36 points and they will be seeking to build on that to cause an up set at Kitende.
Police FC is the only team that has already sailed to the semi finals after beating defending champions BUL FC recently this week.
It is strong to note that this year’s Stanbic Uganda Cup final will be held at the Akii-bua stadium in Lira, for the first time in recent times.
