Vipers' Startimes Uganda Premier League campaign has hit a snag after a disappointing 1-1 draw with NEC and a surprising 0-0 draw with Calvary.

At Vipers, bad performances aren't tolerated. Coach Minnaert needs to act fast to fix their tactics and get the team back on track before Saturday's game against Bul at St. Mary's Stadium, Kitende.

The game against Calvary should have been an easy win, but instead, it showed the Vipers' weaknesses.

Even though Allan Okello, Rogers Torach, and Hillary Mukundane were away with the Uganda Cranes, Vipers were still expected to beat Calvary, who only had one point before the match. But the Vipers looked uninspired, were outplayed physically, and seemed mentally weak. Their defense was exposed, just like in the NEC game.

The recent setback leaves Vipers with 18 points from eight matches, behind KCCA. Minnaert now has to work hard to turn things around early in the season.

The team will be relying on key players like captain Milton Karisa, Yunus Sentamu, Usama Arafat, and Isaac Ogwang to lead them while their teammates are away.

To make things worse, assistant coach Fred Muhumuza has left to join the Uganda Cranes, leaving Minnaert without a key assistant.

John 'Ayala' Luyinda is still there, but there are reports that Simon Peter Mugerwa may join the coaching staff. Changing coaches mid-season is never ideal, but Vipers is known for making quick changes when performances drop.

Whatever changes Minnaert makes, they need to work quickly because Bul will be fighting hard.

Abbey Kikomeko’s team hasn't won in its last five matches, with losses against Express, NEC, Kitara, Entebbe UPPC, and KCCA.

They're currently 11th with 10 points from nine games, close to the bottom of the table.

But games between Vipers and Bul are often unpredictable. In their last five meetings, there have been two draws, two Bulls wins, and one Vipers win. Usually, the current form doesn't matter.

The stakes are high. If Vipers slip up, KCCA and SC Villa could increase their lead. That would put Minnaert in a difficult position, especially after a disappointing CAF Champions League performance.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the table, Calvary (two points) will face Mbarara City (six points) in a game that could determine who gets relegated.

Saidi Mayanja's late goal secured KCCA a 2–1 victory over NEC in Lugogo, pushing them to the top of the UPL. At the same time, Patrick Kaddu scored twice, helping Kitara keep up the pace with a 2–0 win against Maroons.

Sometimes, playing KCCA's song, which calls them soccer leaders, feels wrong since they haven't won a major trophy in six seasons.

The league is still young, with only a third of the games played. But playing the song at Phillip Omondi Stadium after KCCA's 2-1 win over NEC, at their shared home in Lugogo, didn't feel too out of place.

This win puts KCCA at 23 points from 10 games, giving them a three-point lead for at least a day until Vipers plays Bul.

Midfielder Saidi Mayanja became KCCA's hero with two goals, around a Titus Ssematimba header, in a match where both teams ended with 10 players.

KCCA took an early lead when Mayanja scored in the fifth minute after NEC's defence didn't clear Sammy Ssebaduka's cross.

Just before that, Joseph Dhata missed a good chance for NEC, who struggled to find that final touch in a game full of energy but lacking consistent quality.

NEC coach Badru Kaddu made some changes after half an hour due to injury and tactics, bringing in Allan Mugalu and Ibrahim Musa.

These changes paid off early in the second half when Titus Ssematimba, a half-time substitute, headed in NEC's equaliser from Charles Waibi's cross in the 48th minute.

But Ssematimba's joy didn't last long. He was sent off in the 68th minute after receiving two yellow cards in 12 minutes.

Emmanuel Anyama then made things easier for the referee, Shamirah Nabadda, when he stamped on Ibrahim Musa and received a straight red card as KCCA tried to regain control.

There was still time for more drama. NEC's Ibrahim Juma lost the ball to Alex Yiga, who passed to Mayanja, who scored the winning goal off the post with two minutes left, sending KCCA fans wild.

This win marks KCCA's fourth in a row. NEC, on the other hand, are ninth with 11 points and is still finding its feet under Kaddu, with only one win in six games since he took over.

Elsewhere, Kitara is now third with 19 points, four behind KCCA, after Patrick Kaddu's two goals led to a 2-0 victory over Maroons at Butema Ground in Hoima.

The former Maroons striker, who grew up in Luzira, headed in a cross from Edward Namaasa in the first minute. Then, he ran onto Frank Tumwesigye Zaga's through ball and shot past Maroons goalkeeper Hassan Matovu.

Kaddu's goals bring his total to six for the season, which is almost half of Kitara's 14 goals in nine games.

Latest UPL Scores: KCCA 2-1 NEC, Kitara 2-0 Maroons