UPL:Key talking points from Vipers’ Emphatic 7-0 Home win over MYDA

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Startimes Uganda Premier League resumed yesterday after nearly a two-month break and visiting St.Mary’s stadium Kitende on Saturday afternoon were Startimes Uganda Premier League newbies Myda FC.This was one of the two games in hand for Vipers SC having played only three games before the league was halted in December last year.

The venoms made several changes to their first-team squad but produced a stunning display and recorded a thumping 7-0 victory, in a game the visitors will never forget since from the first minute to the last, Fred Kajjoba’s men were rampant; playing to a level that made the opposition seem comically inferior as red shirts all over the pitch put in scintillating and eye catching performances.

Fred Kajjoba handed league debuts to new signings Yunus Ssentamu and Manzoki Ceasor Lobi, while custodian Dennis Kiggundu, Paul Mucureezi (midfielder),Allan Kayiwa (midfielders) and South Sudanese right back Joseph Dhata were given rare starts whilst experienced defender Livingstone Mulondo made his first appearance for Vipers since 2019 after a long injury layoff.

Yunus Ssentamu broke the deadlock with a brilliant acrobat kick just ten minutes after kickoff and capped off his return to the Kitende based outfit in some style.The former As Vita forward extended the venoms’ lead as he registered his name on the score sheet again in the 28th minute after sliding the ball past MYDA’s goalkeeper Isaac Osikou.

Congolese striker Manzoki Ceasor Lobi made it 3-0 in the 38th minute and got off the mark as he scored his first competitive goal for Vipers SC.The forward, who joined Vipers this season,struggled during both of his side’s CAF Champions League games versus Al Hilal Omdurman but showed his class against Myda FC.

The Congolese international found the back of the net with a brilliant header past past MYDA’s goalkeeper Isaac Osikou to further extend Vipers’ lead.On form midfielder Paul Mucureezi further stretched Fred Kajjoba’s side’s advantage with a brilliant finish in the 45th minute and ensured that the venoms went into the first half break leading 4-0.

Paul Mucureezi scored another goal for the defending Champions which was his second on the day as he tapped in Cesar Manzoki’s cross in the 55th minute and made it 5-0 for the Fred Kajjoba coached side.

With 60 minutes played, Fred Kajjoba made a double substitution and brought on former Mbarara City winger Ibrahim Orit and new new recruit Lawrence Tezikya for goalscorers Paul Mucureezi and Yunus Sentamu respectively whilst with the venoms in the full control of the game,more changes were made later on with Musa Ssali and Abraham Ndugwa also coming on in places of Siraje Sentamu and Ceasor Manzoki.

In the 84th minute,former Express skipper Disan Galiwango scored his first goal for the Kitende based club, the sixth goal of the day before fellow summer signing Ibrahim Orit completed the rout late on.

In what was one of the most goal-laden Startimes Uganda Premier League ties in recent months, here are the talking points from the game.

1.VIPERS ATTACK

If at the end of last season, you conducted a survey to see what position fans, journalists and coaches alike expected Vipers to spend the majority of their transfer kitty on, you would find very few who would vote for the attack.The venoms attack led by Fahad Bayo blew teams away last season. Scoring four past Proline and five past Maroons just to name a few.

You’d likely be wondering how they possibly could improve upon last season’s attack but the narrative changed a bit when their last season’s top scorer Fahad Bayo left the Kitende based outfit and joined Ashdod whilst Tito Okello followed suit and joined Gor Mahia.

Then in comes Mohamed Shaban fresh from a long injury layoff, Yunus Ssentamu, Ibrahim Orit, Congolese striker Manzoki Ceasor plus Lawrence Tezikya and immediately the frontline been taken to another level.

The return of Muhammad Shaban from injury added a new dimension to their attack and the addition of Yunus Ssentamu, Ibrahim Orit, Manzoki Ceasor Lobi and Lawrence Tezikya multiplies it.

The possibility of Ssentamu and Shaban lining up together for Vipers is a terrifying proposition and with the intelligence and creativity of David Bagole,Milton Karisa, Paul Mucureezi,Ibrahim Orit, Allan Kayiwa and Karim Watambala around them, the Venoms have themselves a striking department capable of making even the best defences shudder.

Myda couldn’t handle Ssentamu, Manzoki, Kayiwa, Orit and Mucureezi and will probably have been traumatized by the presence of Muhammad Shaban, Karim Watambala and Milton Karisa.

It’s beyond exciting for Vipers fans to think of what these guys can do to Startimes Uganda Premier League defences throughout the campaign that’s in case they consistently live up to the expected standards.

Adding in midfielders like Mucureezi, Karim Watambala, and David Bagole, Bobosi Byaruhanga and Abraham Ndugwa who love to get forward, create, and score makes for an embarrassment of riches. The latter two might have some trouble even getting back into the side once they’re available, that’s just how hot the team is right now.

2.MUCUREEZI CONTINUES TO GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

Midfielder Paul Mucureezi continues to go from strength to strength for Vipers SC this season as he continues to impress every time he’s given an opportunity and looking increasingly like the player he was few seasons ago.

The experienced midfielder was handed a start against Startimes Uganda Premier League newbies, MYDA FC and made his opportunity count in some style, as he scored a brace for the hosts .

The midfielder has been in and out of the venoms starting lineup ever since the arrival of Fred Kajjoba but yesterday versus Myda,he was a constant menace throughout and showed that he’s one of the best players in the Vipers current squad.

After four games in the current campaign,the former Kcca midfielder is looking increasingly like the player he was few seasons ago , as he continues to impress with his energy,creativity deftness, linkup play and eye for goal.

Having scored a beautiful goal in the first half, Mucureezi was alert inside the penalty area and tapped in Ceasor Manzoki’s cross into goalkeeper Isaac Osikou’s net to cap off his Man of the Match display with two well-deserved goals and took his tally to five league goals of the campaign.

When on form,Mucureezi is unplayable and yesterday, he showed no mercy to Myda, helping Vipers to a deserved thumping victory and he’s s likely to hold on to his place in the lineup, even after the return of Karim Watambala, Milton Karisa and Bobosi Byaruhanga that’s in case he continues with his match winning and eye catching performances.

3. YUNUS SSENTAMU MAKES A STATEMENT

Vipers new signing Yunus Ssentamu was thrown straight into the starting XI and he didn’t look out of place.The forward has quickly settled into his role as he netted two goals in his first game of season for Vipers in the top flight.

Ssentamu was involved heavily in front of the visitors goal early on and was getting in behind their defenders on numerous occasions.He also linked up nicely with his new teammates and managed to get into all the right areas.

A promising performance that he can build on and he’s exactly what Vipers need to solve their goal scoring problem they’ve been dealing with in recent seasons and with Muhammad Shaban struggling for fitness, Ssentamu will be key for the Venoms if they are to have a successful campaign.

His debut performance is a real statement of intent by the returning forward who last played competitive football almost two seasons ago and will be looking to emulate former Vipers goal poacher Fahad Bayo, who also got off the mark quickly last season and continued to find the net almost on a regular basis before the league was canceled due to the outbreak of the deadly Corona virus pandemic

4. FIRST CLEAN SHEET FOR VIPERS

Prior to their league game versus Myda, Vipers defenders were all focused and wary of a continuing frailty in defence due to the fact that they had conceded in all their league games this season.They had already shipped in 5 goals and scored 8 goals in three games; a tally that needed an immediate remedy.

Dennis Kiggundu was brought in for the rested Fabian Mutombora , and apart from few saves and shaky moments with the ball at his feet you would not have even known he was there since the opponents found it difficult to make a way through a well organized Vipers backline.

A testament as to how diligent the Vipers defence was in not letting them have a sniff whilst Livingstone Mulondo, returning from injury a long injury layoff delivered an emphatic reminder of his value at the Kitende based outfit.

Debutants Yunus Ssentamu, Manzoki Ceasor and on form Paul Mucureezi will rightfully claim the headlines for Vipers but the contribution of Vipers skipper Halid Lwaliwa, Livingstone Mulondo, Joseph Dhata, Siraje Ssentamu and Disan Galiwango against Myda should not be forgotten.

5. UP TO THIRD

Come the final whistle, Vipers moved up to third on the Startimes Premier League table, showing just how tight things are at the top this year. A win away to Express run will see them lead the 16-team log.

6. MYDA’S STRUGGLES CONTINUE

Myda have had a harsh welcome to the top flight in their maiden Startimes Uganda Premier League campaign and have failed to win in their last five games. Prior to their encounter with Vipers, Myda had conceded atleast twice in each of their four matches and Vipers thumping victory added more salt in the wound.

Starting XI:- Denis Kiggundu, Joseph Dhata, Disan Galiwango, Halid Lwaliwa, Livingstone Mulondo, Siraje Sentamu (Musa Ssali 76′), David Bagoole, Paul Mucureezi (Ibrahim Orit 61′), Cesar Manzoki (Abraham Ndugwa 76′), Yunus Sentamu (Lawrence Tezikya 61′), Allan Kayiwa (Denis Mwemezi 64′).