Vipers SC head coach Roberto Oliveira has stated that the defending champions are not afraid of anyone in the title race be it their immediate rivals KCCA FC.
Usual suspects in the Uganda Premier League title contention KCCA and Vipers once again find themselves occupying the top two positions after 11 games in the ongoing 2022/23 season.
“I like so much playing against teams that make the game feel like a derby,” Oliveira told www.foootball256.com after he was crowned the UPL Coach of the Month for November at Kati Kati Restaurant in Lugogo on Monday.
“If possible it is only such games that I want to play. KCCA and all these other teams the likes of SC Villa, Express FC, and URA FC are all good teams.”
“We have very many other opponents not only KCCA but I think the gap between us and the latter has been created by the fact we started the season with continental engagements.”
“I believe that the next game we play against KCCA will show each side’s capacity but with all due respect to them our objective will be winning,” he vowed.
Vipers, who won the league last season, are positioned second with 23 points whereas KCCA, who were runners up, lead the proceedings with 25 points.
When the two sides faced off in the first leg at the MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo in October, KCCA edged Vipers 1-0 thanks to Rogers Mato’s goal.
For the largest part of last season’s first round, KCCA were top of the standings before Vipers leapfrogged them and eventually won the league by a whopping 18 points difference.
Top of KCCA’s agenda is to avoid such humiliation and fight to win the title while at the same time Vipers also are clear to defend their crown.
The season is still in the early stages but seeing KCCA and Vipers following each other toe to toe is a clear indication that a genuine title race is upon us.
