Uganda Cup Quarterfinal | Monday
- Vipers Vs SC Villa – St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende | 7 PM
As the sun sets over Kitende tonight, the floodlights at St. Mary’s Stadium will flicker to life, illuminating not just a football pitch but a stage for one of Uganda’s most intense rivalries.
Vipers SC and SC Villa are set to clash in the quarter-finals of the Stanbic Uganda Cup, a fixture heavy with history, pride, and high stakes.
This isn’t just another cup game. It’s the third chapter in a season-long saga between two of Uganda’s most storied clubs. The first two acts were dramatic enough.
Vipers edged the first leg at home with a 2-1 win, only for Villa to strike back with a narrow 1-0 victory at Wankulukuku, courtesy of Charles Lwanga’s moment of brilliance. Now, with the season reaching its climax, everything hangs in the balance.
The Venoms come into this clash riding a wave of momentum, with a unbeaten record at home. Their recent 3-1 league victory over NEC didn’t just stretch their lead at the top of the Uganda Premier League to five points, it sent a clear message to any would-be challengers.
Vipers mean business. They’re not just hunting league glory; they’re after a domestic double, and they’ve built a fortress in Kitende that remains unbreached this season.
Boosting their charge tonight is the return of captain Milton Karisa, whose leadership and pace have often been game-changers in big matches.
Then there’s Allan Okello, the league’s top scorer with 16 goals. He’s been the heartbeat of the Vipers’ attacking machine, and when he’s in rhythm, few defenses can keep him quiet.
For SC Villa, the Uganda Cup is more than a trophy, it’s redemption. With their league title hopes long gone and a daunting 20-point gap between them and the Vipers, tonight’s game is their last realistic chance at silverware. That desperation could make them dangerous.
Villa showed grit in their last outing, a 2-0 win over Mbarara City, though the victory came at a cost; red cards to David Owori, Geoffrey Lubangakene and goalkeeping coach Yusuf Ssenyonjo left the team a bit thin on experience.
Still, in-form winger Patrick Kakande will be the man to watch. He was electric in their previous win over the Vipers and could be the X-factor once again.
While SC Villa’s hunger cannot be doubted, the odds seem tilted in favour of Vipers SC. Their unbeaten home record, superior squad depth, and current form give them the edge.
With Okello firing and Karisa back in the lineup, the Vipers look well-equipped to overpower a Villa side that’s had a turbulent season.
But football has never been played on paper. The beauty of the cup lies in its unpredictability, and Villa has proven they can beat the Venoms before.
The 51st edition of the Stanbic Uganda Cup, co-sponsored by Plascon Uganda, is not just a fight for silverware but also serves as a platform for young players to showcase their skills.
