Just ninety minutes separate Vipers SC and CS Sfaxien from the group stages of the 2018/20-19 Total CAF Confederation Cup group stages, the two sides meet Sunday after a goalless draw at St Mary’s Stadium seven days ago.
Vipers’ head coach Michael Nam Ouma encouraged his players to take the encounter with CS Sfaxien as a challenge that will change so many people’s perceptions about the team and their abilities beyond the borders of Uganda.
“We have had some people writing us off after failing to win the home game however this is the right opportunity for us to make things right,” Ouma said upon arrival in Tunisia.
“Therefore take the game as a platform to showcase your talents rather than a threat to what you are capable of doing,” he added.
Sfaxien a four time winners of the competition but last won it in 2013 with current manager Ruud Krol, Ouma doesn’t want that to bother his side who need a scoring draw to advance.
Ouma is firm his side are not heading to Tareb Mhiri stadium tomorrow like lambs to the slaughter and insists the players will be equal to CS Sfaxien’s challenge.
“Many talk about Sfaxien brilliant records in the competition but every good thing with a beginning must have an end.”
“We want to be part of our hosts’ setback with a massive result and football records are not only created, they are broken as well,” the Kenyan added.
Ouma will largely rely on the experience of striker Daniel Muzeyi Sserunkuma, midfielders Abraham Ndugwa Tadeo Lwanga, Moses Waiswa, defender Livingstone Mulondo, Geoffrey Wasswa and Ibrahim Kiyemba to carry the team.
The foursome will be expected to be on top of their game if the rest of their teammates are to rise to the occasion and put up the deserved show.
Viper have not been very good travellers, their first away tie on the contents was a 2-0 defeat to 2004 African Champions Enyimba in 2016 in the Champions League, a year later in the Confederation Cup, they drew one all with VC De Moroni of Comoros.
Vipers lost to Platinum Stars 3-1 in 2017, before a suffering a 2-1 loss to El Merriekh last year, despite advancing in away goals rule, Constantine won the Algeria encounter 1-0.
