MATCH PREVIEW: BUL FC FACE OFF WITH VIPERS SC AT KYABAZINGA STADIUM

The Eastern Giants return to league action on Wednesday when table leaders Vipers SC visit Kyabazinga stadium for a Uganda premier clash set at 2PM kick off.

Although BUL FC shipped out eight players, including the club’s top scorer Musa Esenu during the january transfer window, they will seek to start the second round on a good note as well as make an immediate return to winning ways in the UPL after going two games without victory.

The Eastern Giants still have plenty of quality in stock considering the players available, including the new arrivals in experienced defender – Lawrence Kasadha and evergreen forward – Karim Ndugwa.

The 1-0 defeat to Express in October last year still remains the only loss for Alex Isabirye’s side at Kyabazinga stadium.

BUL could only claim a 1-1 draw when they paid a visit to St. Mary’s stadium in early January, which is also the last time the Eastern Giants played a competitive game, but the team counts 26 points as a result of the seven wins, five draws and three losses to sit seventh on table after 15 games.

Vipers won their last UPL fixture 3-0 at home to SC Villa last week but it is their only drop of a win in their last three league matches, and they fell 1-0 to Arua Hill on their latest travel in the league.

But Roberto Oliveira’s side has been one of the most lethal teams before tomorrow’s encounter to say the least. The Venoms have put forward 34 goals, five more than any side in the division, and their two losses ranks them among the few teams with the least defeats this term.

The visitors have racked up 10 wins and three draws to collect 33 points and sit atop of the league table after the first round.

Wednesday’s clash will be the 22nd between the two teams since 2011, and in case results go BUL’s way, the Eastern Giants will move up to at least fourth on the log.

Team News

Captain Saidi Keni (goalkeeper) and center back Richard Ayiko are the two biggest absentees for tomorrow’s clash due to suspension. The rest of the squad are available and Isabirye has a huge pool of players to choose from.

What they said:

Team manager Alex Isabirye:

We expect to win but I don’t expect it to be an easy game. Vipers is a good team with good coaches as well but we have prepared our players to match them in all aspects.”

“We have gone close to a month with out playing and that may have affected us in one way or the other but I am confident the players know what to do to get the three points tomorrow.”

“We lost Musa Esenu who had scored for us eight goals in the first round but we have got a very good replacement for him. I expect the new catch to match his scoring prowess or even play better than him.”

Captain George Kasonko:

“We have had enough time to prepare for this game. The coaches have sparingly used it to prepare us well and we now have ninety minutes to show what we have been training.”

“There are targets that we set as a team and we can not meet them without winning.“

“Vipers has often given us hard times but we are now more determined to give our all to win the game because tomorrow is the only opportunity we have to move nearer to our set objectives.”

Head to head

This fixture has produced 21 matches since 2011, with BUL FC winning two and Vipers SC 13. Six games have been draws.

Previous meeting

January 08, 2022

Vipers SC 1-1 BUL FC

The Eastern Giants came from behind to draw with Vipers SC in a cagey affair at St. Mary’s stadium.

Simon Peter Oketch came off the bench to cancel out Walter Ochora’s 47th minute own goal in the one all draw.

Oketch capitalized on a Allan Kayiwa’s poor clearance to score in the 90th minute of the contest.

This was also the last time BUL featured in a competitive fixture given that Bundimasoli United failed to turn up for our Uganda Cup match.

Last four encounters

February 09, 2020

BUL FC 2-3 Vipers SC

February 23, 2021

Vipers SC 1-0 BUL FC

September 26, 2021

(Uganda cup final)

Vipers SC 8-1 BUL FC

January 08, 2022

Vipers SC 1-1 BUL FC

Match Facts

BUL FC have lost just once in our last five games, winning one game and drawing three times.

Isabirye’s men have picked up 14 points at home as a result of four victories, two draws and one loss from our seven home matches.

The seven home games have seen a return of 13 goals, and only three conceded.

This fixture has produced a total of 46 goals and BUL FC has contributed 13 since 2011.

It’s six years since the Eastern Giants last won against Vipers SC. Yunus Sibira’s last minute header was the decider in our 1-0 win at Buikwe play ground in April 2016.

Only six stalemates have been registered in games involving the two teams, but four were goalless.

Vipers SC have recorded thirteen victories from this tie with eight coming at their home.

Oliveira’s men have lost and drawn one each in their last seven games.

They have collected 16 points from a possible 21 after winning five, drawing and losing one respectively from their seven away games this term.

The venoms have also scored 17 goals and conceded only five across those games

Vipers have the second best defense in the league after conceding only 13 goals in 15 outings, only KCCA FC have conceded fewer (10)

Tickets

The prices for purchasing tickets at Kyabazinga stadium are as follows.

Ordinary – 5,000/=

V.I.P – 10,000/=

Match Coverage

The game will be live on Sanyuka television, but fans can follow our text updates of the game as well via our social media platforms.

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