UPL: Leo Neiva - Vipers' head coach not taking Mbarara City lightly

Neiva has been sacked|VIPERS IMAGE

FOOTBALL UPL: Leo Neiva - Vipers' head coach not taking Mbarara City lightly

Allan Damba • 17:35 - 02.10.2023

Vipers SC head coach Leonard Martins Neiva will not expect a walk in the park when they visit Mbarara City FC in the third Uganda Premier League game this season on Tuesday.

Neiva has highlighted he expects his team to be both mentally and physically stout against the Ankole Lions at the Kakyeka Stadium.

"Mbarara City FC is a good team, a good counter-attack team. They have a good idea of the game," the Brazilian was quoted by the club media

"I know their situation not too much in the league, having been promoted from the Fufa Big League," the tactician said.

"The trick is how are we going to prepare for Mbarara City FC, mentally and physically. It’s going to be a battle."

"We know how they play because l watched the game when they played Express FC. So, it’s going to be a challenge. We have to be at our best again to collect the three points," Neiva summed.

"They have good offensive players, good common defending, so we have to be creative, we have to be aware of the counter-attacks and all these things."

Vipers' Rodriguez Shamamba in action against Arua Hill|VIPERS IMAGE

When Vipers visited Mbarara City in the 2021/22 season, the former edged it 2-1 with Bobosi Byaruhanga and Ibrahim Orit. Pistis Barenge scored for the latter.

Vipers have won the first two games this season against Gadaffi FC (2-1) and Arua Hill SC (2-0), while Mbarara lost 1-0 to NEC FC and drew one-all with Express FC last time out.

Vipers have confirmed stars Allan Okello, Erick Kenzo Kambale, Fumador Asiwome, and Hilary Mukundane will miss the game with respective injury setbacks.

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