Uganda league holders Vipers SC are ninety minutes away from writing their own history and join the table of men when it comes to continental football.
The three time league winners host Algerian league holders CS Constantine on Saturday at St Marys Kitende in the return leg of the 2018/2019 Total CAF Champions League first round tie trailing 1-0.
Vipers need to win with a score of a two goal margin for them to advance to the group stages of the tournament. It will be a first for them, emulating KCCA FC who achieved the feat early this year.
It’s arguably the biggest test for their Mexican tactician Javier Martinez Espinoza who was tasked with ensuring the team gets into the continental group stages.
“It’s an important match for the team, we have prepared very well. We know that it’s victory or never and I have much confidence that we will go through,” Espinoza told the club official club website.
“It’s not easy to play away, CS Constantine play in one of the biggest leagues in Africa. It was an excellent result for us because we still have the opportunity.”
“They will be very aggressive, they are good on the ball, but we are not scared – we are going for the victory nothing else,” he added.
Espinoza also believe that their 3-1 win against BUL on Wednesday will act as a precursor towards tomorrow’s game.
“It was good to win away, because we regained confidence. It gave my strikers Dan Mzeeyi Sserunkuma and Tito Okello self-belief.”
Vipers’ defender Geoffrey Wasswa who returns from suspension is confident that his side will also come up with a win from Saturday’s game.
“This is a tough competition where every opponent is a champion. We know it is not going to be a walk in the park for us but team work will be our weapon in this encounter,” Wasswa explained.
Despite coming into this tie with a slim advantage, CS Constantine will face a task of breaking Vipers’ home record which stretches to 13 matches without a loss.
The Venoms who have not lost at home in CAF engagements are yet to concede a goal at home in a continental fixture.
Striker Steven Mukwala is unavailable as he is in Tanzania for the East African University Games with Kampala International University (KIU).
Captain Taddeo Lwanga will have to undergo a late fitness test as he limped off in Wednesday’s league tie game.
