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VIPERS FACE TITLE TEST WITHOUT OKELLO, TORACH & MUKUNDANE: CAN MINNAERT ADJUST TACTICS

Vipers face a crucial test against Calvary without key players lost to the Cranes AFCON squad. Can Minnaert's tactical changes secure the top spot?

Vipers Face Title Test Without Okello, Torach & Mukundane: Can Minnaert Adjust Tactics
Vipers' Challenge as Okello Joins Cranes AFCON

The Ugandan Premier League's strength shows in the Cranes' AFCON team, which has many local players.

Vipers would rather have kept Allan Okello for their game against Calvary, but he’s off to AFCON in Morocco.

Life goes on, and coach Ivan Minnaert has a tough choice ahead.

With Okello, plus defenders Rogers Torach and Hilary Mukundane, away on national duty, Minnaert needs to adjust his tactics if Vipers want to stay in the title race.

It's a test of skill and heart for Minnaert to keep the team's attack going and defence strong without those key players.

Okello, even after an off game, remains Vipers' biggest threat on offence.

He's essential to their offensive plays, setting up and scoring goals. His absence, with Torach and Mukundane also out, means others need to step up.

KCCA's comeback win against Bul put them in first place, leaving Vipers in second.

This makes the Calvary game vital. The Vipers need a win to reclaim the top spot against a team still looking for their first win.

Minnaert will count on Milton Karisa, Odili Chukuma, Kane Hney, Mark Yallah, Moses Waiswa, and Usama Arafat to make up for Okello's absence.

In defence, Livingstone Mulondo, Ashraf Mandera, and Nicholas Wadada need to fill in for Torach and Mukundane.

For Vipers, this game is more than just another league match.

A win against Calvary will show they can still compete for the title without their stars and prove they're a team that can handle any challenge.

The strong presence of local players in the Cranes' AFCON squad shows the value of the Ugandan Premier League.

Eight UPL players, plus young James Bogere, are now playing for their country, which recognises their skill and performance in the league.

LIFE AFTER OKELLO: HOW ABDULKARIM WATAMBALA BECAME VIPERS' NEW MIDFIELD COMMANDER

Vipers SC dismantled Police FC 4-1 at Kitende, led by a stunning AbdulKarim Watambala goal to extend their lead at the UPL summit.

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Watambala’s screamer against Police trending as UPL Goal of the Season

Vipers came out flying, up 3-0 by halftime against a stunned Police squad. Once again, AbdulKarim Watambala pulled the strings in midfield, making everything tick.

With this 4-1 thumping at St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende, Vipers held onto their three-point lead at the top of the Startimes Uganda Premier League heading into the last games of the first round.

Honestly, what was supposed to be a top-of-the-table clash turned into a breeze for the defending champions. They probably played their best half of football since Ivan Minnaert took over as head coach last July.

Watambala, who’s looked like a new man since his close friend Allan Okello left, set up the opener for Milton Karisa with a clever through ball. Karisa made no mistake, poking the ball past a scrambling Mathias Muwanga in the 32nd minute.

Then came the moment of the night. Watambala picked up a pass from Enoch Ssebagala just outside the box, and with police defenders backing off, he smashed a rocket in off the underside of the crossbar. That was his third goal in two games, after his brace in Saturday’s 3-0 win over URA.

Right before halftime, Odili Chukwuma put the game to bed, heading in Usama Arafat’s cross after nutmegging Richard Matovu.

Police barely threatened all evening, but Saidi Kyeyune managed to pull one back with a low shot just four minutes into the second half. It didn’t matter much. Vipers stretched their lead again in the 77th minute, when substitute Yunus Sentamu headed the ball across for Usama to tap in their fourth.

The win pushes the Vipers to 33 points. Police drop to third with 27. KCCA move into second place after brushing aside UPDF 4-0. Sammy Ssebaduka grabbed two goals, with Joel Sserunjogi and substitute Alpha Ssali also on the scoresheet.

UPL UPDATES: KCCA FC HELD IN LUZIRA WHILE POLICE FC CLOSE THE GAP AT TOP

Police FC move to second after beating Calvary, while KCCA is held to a goalless draw by Maroons in a rusty MD13 clash.

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Vipers, KCCA, and Police tied on points

After beating Calvary, Police moved up to second place in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League. KCCA didn't score against Maroons, and Entebbe UPPC beat UPDF, keeping the title race close on match day 13.

Police grabbed second place in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League after a 2-0 win against Calvary at Kiira Road on Wednesday.

Breaks during the season are usually a time for teams to regroup and let players rest after many games in a short time. But for the Uganda Premier League, there hasn't been much going on since mid-December, partly because of the 2025 AFCON.

Today's game between Maroons and KCCA in Luzira was different. Both teams seemed out of practice, which might explain the dull game that ended with no score.

Neither team seemed ready to push for a win, and there were few chances to score.

KCCA and Maroons each played one game between December 17 and today, losing to Police and Buhimba United Saints, respectively. That's just one game in 35 days.

Maroons played a physical game, preventing KCCA from controlling the ball and playing their usual style. This could be why coach Brian Ssenyondo took out Ashraf Mugume and Saidi Mayanja at halftime, replacing them with Brian Jjara and Derrick Nsibambi.

The home team kept KCCA away from the goal, and even when they brought in another striker, Emmanuel Anyama, later in the second half, they didn't get many chances.

Maroons defended well as a team to earn a point, putting them in seventh place with 16 points.

For KCCA FC, this result is a setback in their chase for the title. They are tied for first place with 27 points, the same as Police, who beat Calvary FC, and Vipers, who have two games left.

Wednesday's results:

Maroons 0-0 KCCA

Police 2-0 Calvary

UPDF 0-1 Entebbe UPPC

Premier League Standings

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