Vipers squeeze home win over a spirited Mbarara City, fallen Lawal celebrated

Uganda Premier League 2024-2025 (Match day 18):

• Vipers 1-0 Mbarara City
• UPDF 2-0 Sports Club Villa
• Maroons 0-0 KCCA

A moment of silence before the game, black arm bands for either team’s players and a match full of emotions defined the duel between Vipers and Mbarara City at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende under floodlights on Sunday, 2^nd March 2025.

Vipers needed a second half penalty from the current league and their top scorer Allan Okello to settle the dust over Mbarara City, an entity they had played over a week ago in the FA Cup (Stanbic Uganda Cup).

It was a somber mood at the start of the game as Viper’s fallen Nigerian international Abubakar Lawal was celebrated.

There was a moment of silence prior to kick with each of the Vipers’ players donning a green shirt with Lawal’s photo before they took a team photo holding a brand 8 shirt, the number that the Sokoto state player worn at the time of his demise.

In the action proper, It was not an easy match with Mbarara City proving to be a hard nut to crack before Okello’s 66^th minute penalty.

The hosts commenced the game on a promising footing when veteran right back Nico Wakiro Wadada sprinted to the by-line and delivered a cut back pass that was well defended by Bernard Ndifuna in the 10^th minute.

Wadada’s run had come moments after Mbarara City goalkeeper Abdul Kimera requested a momentary pose for the game to break the fast in respect of the muslim brothers.

On the quarter hour mark, Vipers still had an edge with Abdul Karim Watambala shooting over from distance and striker Kenneth Kimera curled wide moments later.

Mbarara City’s first attempt towards the opposition arrived in the 18^th minute through Almahad Sadik Nasur whose shot was blocked by defender Rogers Ochaki Torach on the edge of the goal area

Two minutes later, Peter Onzima also recorded an attempt that hit the side-setting.

Towards the half hour mark, Vipers’ forward Junior Yunus Sentamu shot directly to goalkeeper Kimera.

Then, Moses Waiswa had a free-kick hit the head of Martin Owalamu and it necessitated medical attention.

Onzima razled Sentamu down in the goal area with penalty appeals from the fans humbly turned down by the referee Rahuman Atiku.

Okello had the last opportunity of the opening stanza with a successful dribble over 30 yards but his curler inside the goal area nearly missed target as the first half was all square, 0-0.

Mbarara City had a bright start to the second half.

Onzima approached the Vipers’ goal area and it took a well timed tackle by defender Livingstone Mulondo to save the situation in the 48^th minute.

Mbarara City midfielder Hamza Mulambuzi got cautioned in the 50^th minute for unsporting display.

Vipers forward Kimera found himself in an acute angle on the left but his cut-back rolled away for a throw-in.

Wycliffe Ahumuza (Mbarara City) also got cautioned for a late tackle onto Watambala in the 55^th minute.

Ten minutes into the second half, Vipers called for a double change.

Moses Waiswa and Kenneth Kimera paved way for Issa Bugembe and Joseph Youngman Marvin respectively.

A minute past the hour mark, Vipers were awarded a penalty when forward Sentamu was fouled by goalkeeper Abdul Kimera in the forbidden area.

A couple of Mbarara City players protested the decision but the referee stood firm and also cautioned Kimera for the foul.

Sentamu was taken out for further medical attention as Okello superbly struck home the penalty in the 64^th minute, sending goalkeeper Kimera the wrong way for his 14th goal in the national league.

Tempers flared on the Ankole Lions bench with assistant coach Zaidi Byekwaso cautioned after protesting a referee’s decision.

Inside the final 20 minutes; Mbarara City called for a double substitution.

Yusuf Makhtum was introduced for Wycliffe Ahumuza and an industrious Paul Busolo came on for a seemingly injured Peter Onzima.

Issa Bugembe had a well-timed volley blocked by a forest of bodies of Mbarara City in the goal area.

Mbarara City’s forward Henry Kitegenyi put the ball in the net after Bernard Ndifuna’s clearance but the referee’s whistle had already been signaled for an off-side call in the 75^th minute.

With the clock clicking off; Vipers rested Yunus Junior Sentamu for Mauritanian Mohamed Salem Ekbad before Okello was also pulled out for Gusto Wa Ilungo Mulongo.

Salem and Mulongo had a couple of touches on the ball before the final whistle came calling.

Vipers won the game 1-0, a sweet victory to celebrate Lawal as they stay top of the 16 team standings with 43 points.

This was Vipers’ 13^th victory in 18 matches as the final bend of the season fast approaches.

For Mbarara City who missed the services of their head coach Charles Livingstone Mbabazi on the technical bench (unexplained reasons), they suffered the 8^th defeat in 18 matches; remaining 12^th with 20 points fetched.

The league continues on Monday, 3^rd March 2025 when Wakiso Giants visit Express at the Hamz stadium (Nakivubo war memorial grounds) right in the heart of the capital, Kampala.

Express has 25 points from 17 matches and Wakiso Giants has garnered just 13 points from the same number of games.

Team Line Ups:

Vipers XI: Alfred Macumu Mudekereza (G.K), Nico Wadada Wakiro, Derrick Ndahiro, Livingstone Mulondo, Rogers Torach Ochaki, Paul Patrick Mbowa, AbdulKarim Watamabala, Moses Waiswa, Yunus Junior Sentamu, Kenneth Kimera, Allan Okello (Captain)

Subs:

Denis Kiggundu (G.K), Jack Komakech (G.K), Grant Matsiko, Siraje Sentamu, Mohamed Salem Ekbad, Frank Katongole, Enock Luyima, Gusto Wa Ilungo Mulongo, Joseph Youngman Marvin, Pedro Honjo Chimbiambinlu, Issa Bugembe, Richard Matovu

Mbarara City XI: Abdul Kimera (G.K), Edward Namaasa (Captain), Martin Owalamu, Bernard Ndifuna, Henry Kitegenyi, Peter Onzima, Seiri Arigumaho, Nasur Sadik Almahad, Hamza Mulambuzi, Wycliffe Ahumuza, Jimmy Ndalambi

Subs: Aaron Icumar, Henry Musisi Muyomba, Francis Odongo, Ibrahim Ceaser Kazindula, Stephen Othieno, Paul Busolo, Gibson Adinho, Yusuf Makutum, Idris Shaaban Kalembo, Yusuf Mafabi

Team officials:

• Referee: Rahuman Atiku
• 1^st Assistant Referee: Shafik Opolot

• 2^nd Assistant Referee: Mustapha Mafumu

• Fourth official: Solomon Jjumba

• Match commissioner: Jean Sseninde Namayega

• Referee Assessor: David Davis Katabira

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