FUFA Super Cup: SC Villa v Vipers

By Shafik Ssenoga

SC Villa Jogoo v Vipers

Nakibuvo Stadium (kick off at 4pm)

SC Villa are the aristocrats of Uganda football but Vipers will want to prove they are also a big side in their own right when the two sides meet today in the FUFA Super Cup at Nakivubo Stadium.

The season curtain raiser between the Azam Uganda Premier League champions Vipers and Uganda Cup winners Villa is largely about bragging rights.

Nevertheless it can a be psychological boost to the winner, going into the new season, in addition to filling some space in the trophy cabinet.

When the two sides met in the league last season, Vipers defeated Villa 2-0 in the second round at Nakivubo Stadium in May, having settled for a 1-1 draw in the first round last December.

Vipers who signed over eight players face a side that has almost changed their entire squad and technical team led by new coach Antonio Flores, a Spaniard.

Both sides have had preseason friendlies and Villa has just returned from Tanzania where they lost 1-0 to Simba.

Vipers were third at the Invitational Cup they hosted last week which Lweza won.

Villa will look to Umar Kasumba, Patrick Mbowa, Fahad Tooko for victory while Farouk Miya, Keziron Kizito, Erias Ssekisambu will be key pillars for Vipers.

Ssekisambu will also be facing his former employers. Each team will be entitled to use a maximum of seven substitutes and in case of a draw at the end of 90 minutes, spot kicks will be applied.

The winner will walk away with a trophy, 25 gold medals and a cash prize of sh1.5m while the runners-up receive 25 silver medals and sh500,000.