Like a champion boxer feeling out the ring before unleashing heavier punches, Vipers have quietly but surely shifted into second gear.
Ivan Minnaert’s side, the only team yet to taste defeat in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League this season, are beginning to look like an unstoppable beast – this despite the mid-season departure of star man Allan Okello.
Matchday 13 delivered a seismic shake-up at the top. Taking full advantage of slip-ups by closest challengers KCCA and SC Villa, the Venoms produced a ruthless display to whitewash URA 3-0 under the Nakivubo lights on Saturday night.
That emphatic victory lifted the seven-time league winners and reigning champions to 30 points from 12 matches – one fewer than KCCA and SC Villa – while also boosting their goal difference to a healthy +18.
Assault
Against URA, Vipers were dominant in both possession and intent, playing with the conviction and mettle of genuine title contenders.
Attacking midfielder Karim Watambala set the tone almost instantly, pouncing inside the opening two minutes after reacting quickest to a loose ball in the box.
The early strike allowed Vipers to dictate tempo, suffocate URA’s midfield and probe with confidence.
Their authority was rewarded late on when Gusto Mulongo finished neatly from Usama Arafat’s teasing delivery to double the advantage.
Watambala then capped a man-of-the-match performance with a curling effort to complete his brace, sealing a performance that nearly screamed champions-in-the-making.
With Okello gone, the spotlight has naturally fallen on how Vipers would reinvent their attacking spark. On current evidence, Watambala and Usama Arafat are doing a convincing job of filling the void.
The jury, however, is still out on whether the duo can ignite the same fire against sterner tests – starting with second placed Police on Tuesday, followed by Buhimba United on Friday and Kitara at a later date as Vipers close out the first round.
Lost ground
Elsewhere, the chasing pack stumbled. KCCA were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Maroons on Wednesday, while Police edged Calvary on the same day, leaving both sides tied on 27 points after 13 matches.
SC Villa, meanwhile, endured another setback on Friday, losing 2-1 to Bul at Njeru. It marked Zeljko Kovacevic’s side’s third defeat of the campaign, following earlier losses to Maroons and KCCA, and left the Jogoos fourth on 26 points from 13 games.
That result widened the so-called ‘bridesmaid battle.’ Abdallah Mubiru’s Entebbe UPPC muscled their way into the conversation with a gritty 1-0 win over UPDF in Bombo to climb to 26 points, level with Villa.
Wasswa Bbosa’s Kitara are also lurking, sitting sixth on 23 points after a dramatic 3-3 draw with Nec at Lugogo.
In that thriller, Nec led 2-0 at the break through Joseph Sseremba and Joseph Dhata, only for Kitara to roar back.
Goals from George Ssenkaaba and Gaddafi Wahab restored parity, Emmanuel Kulanga briefly put Nec ahead late on, before Emmanuel Wasswa’s 90th-minute header salvaged a point for the Royals.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Vipers have laid down a marker. The question now is whether anyone can keep pace with a champion that has finally found its rhythm.
STARTIMES UGANDA PREMIER LEAGUE
Results
URA 0-3 Vipers
Express 3-1 Buhimba
Nec 3-3 Kitara
Mbarara City 0-0 Lugazi