Vipers would have loved to keep their talisman Allan Okello glued to their lineup for Tuesday’s clash against bottom-placed Calvary at Midigo P/S Playground, but duty calls – and the Cranes’ Afcon adventure in Morocco cannot wait.
Life, as the saying goes, waits for no man, and for Ivan Minnaert, this presents a classic between a rock and a hard place scenario.
With Okello, alongside defenders Rogers Torach and Hilary Mukundane, away on national duty, the Belgian tactician must now recalibrate his tactics and squad strategy if the Venoms are to keep pace with title-chasing rivals.
It is a test not just of skill but of character, as Minnaert seeks to maintain attacking fluidity and defensive solidity without his key orchestrators.
Okello, though off-colour in Vipers’ 1-1 draw with Nec on Friday, remains their most potent attacking threat.
He is the glue of the Venoms’ offensive patterns, capable of creating and scoring decisive goals, and consistently the main source of worry for opposing defences.
His absence, coupled with the loss of Torach and Mukundane, puts the onus on the rest of the squad to step up.
Comeback
KCCA’s hard-fought 2-1 comeback win over Bul on Sunday, thanks to Alex Yiga’s stoppage-time winner, propelled them back to the summit with 20 points from nine matches, leaving Vipers second on 17 points from seven games.
This adds urgency to the fixture; a win over bottom-placed Calvary, still searching for their first victory in eight matches, is essential if the Venoms are to reclaim their place at the top of the table.
Minnaert will bank on Milton Karisa, Nigerian forward Odili Chukuma, Liberians Kane Hney and Mark Yallah, as well as Moses Waiswa and Usama Arafat, to fill the creative void left by Okello.
Defensively, Livingstone Mulondo, Ashraf Mandera, and Nicholas Wadada must rise to the challenge to replace Torach and Mukundane, ensuring the Venoms remain resilient at the back while seeking to break down Calvary’s stubborn resistance.
For Vipers, today is more than a routine league game; it is a test of depth, adaptability, and mental toughness.
Success against Calvary will prove that the Venoms can carry on their title charge even in the absence of their key stars, and reaffirm that Minnaert’s side is not just a team built around one man, but a squad capable of rising to the occasion.
UPL well-represented
The strong domestic representation in the Cranes’ Afcon squad underlines the relevance of Uganda’s Premier League.
Eight players from the UPL – Charles Lukwago, Ivan Ahimbisibwe, Shafik Kwikiriza,Torach, Mukundane, David Owori, Reagan Mpande, and Okello – alongside teenage prospect James Bogere from the lower tiers, are now away on international duty, a clear recognition of their talent and league performance.
StarTimes Uganda Premier League
Tuesday in Yumbe
Calvary vs. Vipers, 4pm