CAF CL Group C
Saturday, February 25
*Vipers (Uganda) Vs Simba (Tanzania) – 7pm
*Raja Casablanca(Morocco) Vs Horoya (Guinea) – 10pm
Table
- Raja 🇲🇦 – 6
- Horoya 🇬🇳 – 4
- Vipers 🇺🇬 – 1
- Simba 🇹🇿 – 0
The Brief
Vipers SC welcome Tanzanian giants Simba SC in Group C of the CAF Champions League encounter on Saturday.
The match at St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende will be played under floodlights, for the first time at the venue.
The encounter will be handled by Mozambique officials – Celso Alvacao is the centre referee and will be assisted by Arssenio Marengula and Teofilo Mungoi while Simoes Guembe is the fourth official.
The encounter finds both sides desperate for results after a poor start in the Competition.
Vipers who lost 5-0 to Raja in their opener, were held to a goalless draw by Horoya last weekend at Kitende.
Simba on the other hand, lost their two games against Horoya (away) and Raja Casablanca (Home).
This, will be the first ever meeting between the two sides, and pits together two neighbours in what promises to be a classic East African derby.
Can Vipers Finally Score?
Vipers have gone six matches across all competitions without finding the back of the net.
Five of the six have come under new coach Beto Bianchi who arrived at the club after they lost 1-0 against Busoga United in their last First round league game.
His side needed shootouts to eliminate Bujjumbura United and Jinja North United out of Uganda Cup, with both games ending 0-0 after 90 minutes.
They were beaten 5-0 away to Raja before a goalless draw in CAF Champions League.
They played another goalless draw against Wakiso Giants at Kitende in their first game of the Second Round in the League.
And pressure continues to mount in the dressing room for the new gaffer, with Club President Lawrence Mulindwa having left frustrated before the final whistle during the Wakiso stalemate.
They will be without striker Karim Ndugwa who is cap-tied having played in CAF Confederation Cup with BUL FC, meaning Yunus Sentamu may start with Desire Tety up front.
Lumala Abdu is back and that gives Vipers plenty of options at the wings, a department that also has Milton Karisa, Martin Kizza and Ibrahim Orit.
But the bigger worry is defender Murushid Juuko may miss out after picking a knock against Wakiso Giants, and that might see Hillary Mukundane partner Livingstone Mulondo at the heart of defence.
Dissan Galiwango expected to start at the left side of defence after Isa Mubiru was sent off for an elbow against Horoya last week.
Robertinho Back at Kitende
Roberto Oliveira will be in the dugout as Simba take on Vipers at Kitende, having joined the Msimbazi after ending his stay at Vipers in December last year.
He had joined the Kitende based club in August 2021, then replacing Fred Kajoba.
During his term at Vipers, he helped the Club win one Uganda cup and a Uganda premier League trophy last season.
Notably, he helped Vipers qualify for the CAF champions League group stages, their first in the history.
That run was made possible after eliminating Olympic De Bangui (Central African Republic) before ousting TP Mazembe of DR Congo.
Just like his successor at Kitende, Robertinho is under pressure at Simba after a poor start.
They have lost both games in CAF Champions League and recently drew 1-1 with Azam in the league, slipping to eight points adrift of leaders Young Africans.
This is the tie, which include a home fixture next week, that Robertinho will think must save his career especially against a team he knows in and out.
And in a press conference at Kitende, he talked about needing any good result, to hit the ground running.
Probable Lineups
*Vipers – Alfred Mudekereza, Hillary Mukundane, Ashraf Mandela, Livingston Mulondo, Dissan Galiwango, Siraje Sentamu, Bright Anukani, Karim Watambala, Milton Karisa, Desire Tety, Yunus Sentamu
Simba – Aishi Manula, Shomari Kapombe, Hussein Mohamed, Kennedy Juma, Henock Inonga, Sadio Kanoute, Ousmane Sakho, Mzamir Yassin, Bocco John, Ntibazokiza Saidi, Clatous Chama
How To Watch – Tickets are going for Sh20,000 (Ordinary) and Sh50,000 (VIP) to watch live at the Stadium. Those watching on TV, the game is live on Sanyuka Prime. DStv and StarTimes will also broadcast this encounter.
