KCCA edge rivals Vipers for historic victory

KCCA FC players celebrating their maiden victory over Vipers SC at Kitende | Toni Kamau Image

UPL KCCA edge rivals Vipers for historic victory

Brian Aheebwa 20:55 - 15.03.2024

Defender Mustafa Kizza netted the all important goal at the death-mark from a penalty kick for the Kasasiro Boys to win a game of football at the Venoms' den for the first time in history.

KCCA FC edged rivals Vipers SC 1-0 in the Uganda Premier League encounter played at St. Mary's Stadium, Kitende on Friday evening.

Defender Mustafa Kizza netted the all important goal at the death-mark from a penalty kick for the Kasasiro Boys to win a game of football at the Venoms' den for the first time in history.

Mustafa Kizza the match winner | Toni Kamau Image

Vipers suffered a major blow in the opening stages of the game when striker Yunus Sentamu suffered an injury and was stretched off midway through the first half.

Yunus Ssentamu was stretched off in the 19th minute | Sports Lens Image

Both teams were limited to half chances throughout the opening half of this encounter and the biggest chance of the first stanza fell to Allan Okello who nearly punished his former paymasters at the stroke of halftime.

Allan Okello faced his former club for the first time | Toni Kamau Image

The hosts could have taken the lead moments after the restart of the second half but KCCA skipper Filbert Obenchan cleared substitute Fazil Tumwine’s goal bound strike off the line.

KCCA captain Filbert Obenchan kept the Kasasiro Boys in the game | Ton Kamau Image

Either side was pressing for an opening with a full hour on the clock but couldn’t find a way through.

The visitors had a moment of dominance with a quarter of an hour left until fulltime, and when everyone thought the match would end in a draw, a moment of a tie breaker arrived.

Vipers defender Ashraf Mandela handled the ball inside his own box in the 90th minute, leaving referee Ali Sabila with no option but to point to the spot.

Kizza who was introduced in the 87th stepped up and converted from 12 yards for a historic win for the 13-time UPL champions at Kitende.

It is also important to noted that KCCA completed a league double over Vipers having defeated the latter 3-1 in the reverse fixture played in Lugogo in November 2023.

Similarly, this game also marked the return of the Venoms’ head coach Livingstone Mbabazi on the touchline following reports of his illness and sacking.

Defeat left the defending champions in fifth position with 35 points, eight adrift of table leaders Kitara FC but the former have played two games less.

On the other hand, victory lifted the Lugogo-based outfit from the 10th position to eighth with 29 points from 20 outings.

The UPL will take a fortnight’s break to accommodate the Uganda Cranes in the forthcoming international window.

When the league resumes on the 28th of March, Abdallah Mubiru’s charges will host Busoga United FC in Lugogo, whilst Mbabazi’s side will visit URA FC in Lugazi two days later.