Vipers SC will be keen to make an instant turnaround from a shocking 1-0 defeat to Gaddafi FC, when they take on hapless Onduparaka FC in the Uganda Premier League on Wednesday, at the St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
Before the Sunday result, the Venoms had gone on a five-game winning run, with clean sheets in all.
And, head coach Roberto Oliveira alias Robertinho has asserted the Gaddafi result gave them lessons that will steer them ahead of the Wednesday bout.
“It was disappointing to concede an early goal (against Gaddafi) and they made it difficult for us, they dropped deep and we had to try to penetrate for most of the game after that,” said Robertinho to Vipers media.
“Credit to them, they made it difficult. We’ve just got to dust ourselves off and stay confident, it’s halfway so we’ve still got a chance to bounce back,” he added.
“We can take confidence from the way we dominated possession, especially in the second half. The changes will come. It’s not over, far from it.”
Vipers’ assistant captain Siraje Ssentamu has reiterated the team’s need to take positives from Sunday ahead of the bout against the Caterpillars, well knowing that a win will have them assume top-spot.
“It’s disappointing and not something we’re used to.”
“But if anything, it just gives us that motivation to bounce back and make it right as quickly as possible. Sometimes it happens and you need to take the positives from it.”
“It gives us that hunger again – not that we didn’t have it but we just want to bounce back and make it right. That’s what we’ll try to do.”
They take on an Onduparaka side that is enduring one of its worst runs in the top flight. They have lost six of their last seven games, and are rock-bottom with just two points.
In the last ten league meetings between the two, the Venoms have managed seven wins and three stalemates.
At Kitende last season, the hosts edged the Caterpillars 1-0, courtesy of then-skipper Halid Lwaliwa’s lone strike.
Vipers have confirmed star forward Yunus Sentamu will face a late fitness test after sitting out the Gaddafi game with a groin injury.
Long-term absentees Paul Mucureezi, Abdu Lumala, and Livingstone Mulondo will continue to stay sidelined with respective injuries.
