Unless otherwise, the Uganda Premier League (UPL) table leaders, Vipers SC are expected to beat Wakiso Giants FC when the two sides meet at the St Mary’s stadium in Kitende on Friday, March 14.
The Venoms, who are now on 46 points, five clear second-placed NEC FC, could go eight clear. Depending on how NEC FC performs in Luzira against Maroons FC on the same day, a plausible title run-in could end then, with 10 match days still to play.
Already, the murmuring around the UPL, following NEC FC’s goalless draw with third-from-bottom Wakiso Giants on Friday, March 7 at the Kabaka Kyabaggu ground in Wakiso, is that the season is almost dead.
The feeling is that Vipers are already champions-elect, with just a quarter of the second round played. However, does NEC still have it in itself to save the division from what could prove a humiliating stroll to the finish line by Vipers?
Following the indifferent results of SC Villa, the defending champions, who are now ninth, 22 points behind Vipers, and KCCA FC, who are sixth, 18 points behind, NEC FC carried the hopes of the rest of the league; someone to challenge the behemoth, that is Vipers. Yet, now, they seem to be losing steam when they should be building momentum, to make the 2024/25 season worthwhile.
But NEC FC’s form away from the MTN Omondi stadium has proved to be so inconsistent. It is one reason why their subtle title ambitions have been shaky. Since match-day two, when they travelled to Hoima, and registered a 2-1 away win over Kitara FC, they have only managed one other win, which came against bottom-placed Mbale Heroes.
Yet, even that was a laboured 1-0 win. Observers believe that the NEC players have struggled all season to build esteem when they are away from Lugogo. During an interview at the end of the first round, with Hussein Mbalangu, the NEC coach, he said their inhibitions would be overcome by the time the second round started.
Mbalangu was not worried, although he felt that oftentimes, they dropped points away from home because of individual errors, and purely lack of concentration during matches. Just how one explains the fact that after leading against Police FC in the first half, then give away an equalizer in added time recently, may be hard.
Worse still, a player, Paul Mucureezi, who had not missed a penalty in the UPL in 10 attempts over a decade, missed in that same game against Police FC. Maybe the pressure of being in the title conversation is taking its toll. But Mucureezi denied that was the case.
He said: “Teams in the UPL are tough. And because of that, we found out how difficult it was against Wakiso Giants. You cannot suggest that the championship is over. More twists are coming in the league.”
While a title race is never over un- til it is over, NEC have to significantly improve their away record from just two wins in eight games not played at Lugogo. Put simply, Vipers have also had their tough days, like was the case against Police FC in Kavumba last week.
Nevertheless, through the magical boot of Allan Okello, they needed one second half moment to open up the Cops’ defence, before Yunus Sentamu slotted home. The dynamism of the Vipers attack, added to the break-neck speeds they apply in the final third, to open up defences, is the difference between them and NEC.
A number of Vipers’ goals have come as a result of their slithered movement and quick ball passing. Clearly, they are working diligently on that while on the training ground. It has worked well for them especially away from home where, from nine outings, they have won eight.
Besides, in four second round games, Vipers have scored six goals and conceded none. NEC has also conceded once in their four second round games, scoring four times. Unfortunately, the disparity between Vipers and NEC away from home is glaring. The former has scored 18 goals against the latter’s eight. That is telling!
