CECAFA Kagame Cup: Vipers Coach Explains What Worries Him Ahead of Gor Mahia Clash

Vipers coach Denis Lavagne has sent a firm message to his players ahead of their CECAFA Kagame Cup match against Kenyan champions Gor Mahia on Monday.

The Ugandan Premier League champions started their campaign with a 3-0 thrashing of Djibouti's Garde Republicaine on Friday but what they are up against on Monday is something different.

Gor Mahia come into the match after demolishing Rwandan giants APR 5-0 in a one-sided game which was marked by plenty of dangerous moments on the counter-attack from the Kenyan champions.

That presents a challenge for Vipers, who saw Farouk Miya score twice before Abdu Karim Watambala added the third in their win, and Bady admits it is a different task that his players must be ready for.

What worries the French coach is that while they won the game on Friday, they were poor in the second half, something that must not happen on Monday.

“We have to do our best to win the group but it is a good test for us. The players have shown progress and I expect a better game than the first,” Lavagne told the media on Sunday.

“I am not satisfied with how we played; I feel we played a good first half but we have to correct many things. The second half for me was bad. We have to correct so many things from the second half but this is normal because it is the first game of pre-season and normally, you cannot play at your best.”

Lavagne admits the record Kenyan champions are the best team in their group but he has to find a way to bring them down as an improvement in performance will be key to his team quickly getting ready for the new season.

“My target is on August 23 when we play the Super Cup in Uganda, we are ready. We hope to win tomorrow [Monday] and move to the semi-final but I know we will have to work and improve many things,” he added.

“Gor Mahia is the most difficult from the group but the players are motivated and ready to win and improve. They also have to play for their positions so when they get their chance, they have to improve.”

A win for Vipers will secure their place in the semi-final with a match to spare.