Vipers under pressure; Kitara hold advantage in Caf ties

Uganda’s two representatives in the Caf interclub competitions emerged from their opening legs last weekend with contrasting fortunes, but neither tie is settled, writes ELLY KYEYUNE.

On September 5, Vipers SC were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by FC Nouadhibou at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, a result that leaves the Ugandan champions facing a considerably more difficult assignment in Mauritania.

Vipers made the ideal start when Hillary Mukundane put them ahead in the third minute. But the advantage lasted only 20 minutes before Sidi Ahmed Mohamed headed Nouadhibou level from a corner.

From there, Vipers dominated spells of the contest without finding the breakthrough. Nouadhibou’s goalkeeper was particularly impressive, standing firm under sustained pressure, while Vipers struggled to prise open a disciplined defence.

Cesar Manzoki appeared to have rescued the hosts late in the second half, but his effort was ruled out for a foul on the opposing goalkeeper. The one-all scoreline means Vipers must now produce a result in Nouadhibou.

A score draw of 2-2 or higher would take them through, while any victory would also suffice. A goalless draw would eliminate them, and a 1-1 draw would send the tie to the applicable tiebreak procedure.

The bigger concern for Vipers is that they created enough pressure at Kitende to win the game but failed to convert that territorial advantage into a decisive lead. Away from home, they are unlikely to enjoy the same control, making their finishing and defensive discipline even more important.

For Kitara FC, the picture is more encouraging. On Sunday, September 6, the Hoima-based side secured a 2-1 victory over Mogadishu City Council in the first leg of their Caf Confederation Cup preliminary-round tie, giving themselves a narrow but valuable advantage before the return leg in Hoima this weekend.

Kitara fell behind in the 17th minute when Akram Ilyaas put Mogadishu City ahead. But Jimmy Kalema responded almost immediately, scoring in the 33rd and 34th minutes to complete a quick brace and turn the game around.

Kalema’s double was the defining moment of the contest. Having gone behind, Kitara showed the composure to recover quickly and protect their lead, although the onegoal advantage means there is still plenty of work to do.

The match, however, was overshadowed by an avoidable administrative problem. Kick-off was delayed by 40 minutes because Kitara officials had not cleared Caf bench permits on time.

Even more significantly, Wasswa Bbosa, officially listed as the assistant coach, was absent from the technical bench because of qualification requirements. That situation is a reminder that success in Caf competitions is not determined only by what happens on the pitch.

Clubs must also meet the competition’s administrative and licensing demands. Kitara’s experience is not without precedent. In September 2021, Express FC added veteran coach Simon Peter Kirumira to their technical bench to meet Caf licensing requirements for their Champions League match against Al Merrikh.

At the time, head coach Wasswa Bbosa held only a Caf B licence, which did not allow him to sit on the bench for Caf interclub competitions. Five years later, the same issue has resurfaced around Bbosa, underlining how important proper preparation for continental football remains.

On the field, however, Kitara can take confidence from their comeback and the fact that the second leg remains in Hoima. They have a one-goal cushion, home advantage and the knowledge that another disciplined performance should put them in a strong position to advance. For Vipers, the equation is considerably tougher.

Their failure to capitalise on home advantage has turned the return leg into a genuine test of character. For Kitara, the challenge is to finish a job they have started well. Two Ugandan clubs, two different continental realities: Vipers must recover on the road, while Kitara must protect their advantage at home.

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