Vipers Vs Express: Team News, Probable Lineups, Preview and Stats

John Paul Ntege

May 16, 2023
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Uganda Premier League

Tuesday, May 16th
(Kick off time for all 4 Pm)

•Vipers SC vs Express, St Mary’s Stadium-Kitende

•UPDF vs SC Villa, Bombo Barracks Grounds

•Arua Hill vs Busoga United, Barifa Grounds

•Blacks Power vs Gadaffi FC, Akibua Memorial stadium

•KCCA FC vs BUL FC, MTN Phillip Omondi Stadium

•Maroons vs Onduparaka, Luzira prisons grounds

•Wakiso Giants vs Bright Stars, Kabaka Kyabaggu Stadium

Team News

Vipers duo of defenders Murushid Juuko and Livingstone Mulondo are still out with respective injuries.

Goalkeeper Alfred Mudekereza and Marvin Joseph Youngman are still long term absentees.

For Express , they are boosted by the return of Marvin Oshaba and Dhata Joseph, who return from suspension.

Midfielders Shafic Sebyala and Ivan Mayanja remain sidelined while Hussein Ssenoga is still recovering from illness.

Center Back Denis Otim is also undergoing his final stages of recovery while striker Anwar Ntege will need a late fitness test.

Probable Lineups

Vipers- Fabien Mutombora, Ashraf Mandela, Isa Mubiru, Rogers Torach, Hillary Mukundane, Siraje Sentamu, Bright Anukani, Abubakar Lawal, Milton Karisa, Karim Ndugwa, Yunus Sentamu

Express – Abdul Kimera GK, Joseph Dhata, Isa Lumu, Isma Kawawulo, Arthur Kiggundu, Boban Zirintusa, Derrick Ngoobi, Joseph Akandwanaho, Enock Ssebagala, Marvin Oshaba, Allan Kayiwa

Preview: No room for error as Vipers Welcome Express

There will be no room to slip as leaders Vipers welcome Express at the st. Mary’s stadium in kitende on Tuesday evening.

The Venoms, who are currently on top find themselves in a must win situation in each of their remaining three games if they are to retain their title.

They have been a shadow of themselves ever since beating rivals KCCA at the start of the month and they have gone 180 minutes without finding the net since then.

First, they lost 1-0 to Bright Stars at the start of last week, before drawing goalless against Onduparaka last Friday.

And the two results saw them move to 46 points and are tied on points with second and third placed KCCA and Villa respectively with only goal difference seperating the three.

The race is now tight and Alex Isabirye’s men can’t afford to slip any more with three games to go.

Against Express, head coach Isabirye said.

” I am not expecting an easy game because Express FC have done well. They showed an awful lot of character against KCCA FC in Luzira over the weekend with only 14 players.”

“So, there is no chance that it’s going to be an easy game. We have to make sure we’re ready for the challenge, the battle and the fight, he told the club’s media.

On Tuesday, Isabirye’s major worry will be his side’s goal drought that has seen them go two games without finding the back of the net.

And even the return of striker Yunus Sentamu in the Onduparaka game, he failed to make his presence felt and more will be needed from him on tuesday.

Against Express, they face a side that denied KCCA just over the weekend at Luzira, and the Venoms will need to double their efforts if they are to pick a needed result against the Wankulukuku based team.

On the other hand, the visitors will be seeking to spoil the party when they take a visit to Kitende.

Express, who are fighting for a better finish have been a hard side to break , more so against the top sides.

Over the weekend, they frustrated KCCA ,with the game ending goalless at Luzira.

And their head coach, James odoch has high expectations in their visit to Kitende.

“Vipers is a good team with a number of good players but we’re also ready for the task at hand as we look to get maximum points and change our league position before it’s[league] climax, he told the club’s media on Monday.

Against Vipers, all eyes will be on Express FC star man Allan Kayiwa, who will be returning back at. kitende.

On his return, he returns a happy man as he is the current league top scorer with 11 goals.

And he will be seeking to make his presence felt once again as they target to hurt the Venoms at Kitende.

The two sides played out to a goalless draw in the reverse fixture held at Wankulukuku last year in December.

Stats

Vipers are currently on top with 46 points after 25 games.

They picked two wins, draw once and lost two in their last five league games.

Express are 10th on the log with 31 points from 25 games.

They have picked only one win in their last five league games. (D3, W1, L1).

Head to Head

2022/23
Vipers Vs Express….?

Express 0-0 Vipers