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The last round of Uganda Premier League results put Vipers SC in a strong position to defend the title, should they keep their sights glued on the prize.
The last round of Uganda Premier League results put Vipers SC in a strong position to defend the title, should they keep their sights glued on the prize.
While both the leaders SC Villa and runners-up KCCA FC lost to Arua Hill SC (1-0) and URA FC (2-0) respectively, the Venoms edged UPDF FC 1-0 to re-assert their stance as stout aspirants.
However, head coach Alex Isabirye, who by the club's standards, knows winning the league is the least they can settle for, is reluctant to admit they are favorites.
"I’m not sure in the moment, I don’t think you could now say it’s nicer to fight for the title or whatever, in the moment it’s just about [that] we have to win football games," he said while speaking to the club media.
Vipers are third with 35 points, three and eight behind KCCA and Villa despite the pair playing two and four games more, respectively.
With the latter duo playing against each other on Sunday, Isabirye will hope to have made strides on the table, as his side hosts URA on Saturday at the St Mary's Stadium, Kitende.
"Yeah, super-important game, that’s the one thing that’s not different to all the other games because obviously for us, it's super-important."
"We have to fight, and you usually get what you deserve if you work hard enough – and that’s what we try," added the former BUL FC and URA boss.
Games between the two are always extremely difficult to call, and with URA's current form, Vipers will have to go extra miles to win at home turf.
The Tax Collectors have picked six victories in their last eight games, including a hugely impressive 2-0 win over KCCA last time out.
"But we know it’s a massive game, a massive week coming up. But for tomorrow obviously, it deserves all the attention, we should not think about the other games," noted Isabirye.
"That’s how we approach it. It’s clear, against URA you have to be on top of your game. You have to defend on a super-high level and you have to play football as well."
Vipers edged the first round 1-0 at the Saza Grounds, Nakisunga thanks to a Benjamin Nyakoojo own-goal.
URA hold a slight edge in the head to head, as they have picked seven wins over Vipers' six in the previous 21 games dating back to 2013. Eight have ended in stalemates.
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