Allan Okello Lone Strike Enough For Vipers to Give Fallen Star Lawaal a Decent Send off

Captain Allan Okello scored the only goal for the Venoms to defeat Mbarara City FC 1-0 in the StarTimes Uganda Premier league game played on Sunday at St Mary’s stadium Kitende dedicated to fallen star Abubakar Lawaal.

Okello scored from 12 yards in the 64th minute after Yunus Sentamu was brought down in the area.

Midfielder Abdul Karim Watambala and forward Kenneth Kimera could have put the hosts in the lead before the half time mark, but couldn’t find the target.

Okello before scoring the winner, had earlier got the opportunity to break the deadlock, but he was denied by goalkeeper Abdul Kimera on his free-kick effort.

Hitman Yunus Sentamu before winning the penalty for his team, had also got a first half opportunity to give his side the lead, but his left footed effort was well dealt with by goalkeeper Abdul Kimera.

With a few chances created by the visitors, they could have also found the break through, Seri Arigumaho,Wycliffe Ahumuza and Henry Kitegenyi all failing to find the target for the chances they got.

Before Kick off, the Venoms were all dressed in T-shirts bearing fallen fellow player Abubakar Lawaal who passed away days ago.

Vipers SC win against Mbarara City was their 13th win of the season now at 43 points and they are three points a drift of second placed NEC with 40.

Mbarara City FC coach Bashir ‘Bastu’ Ssemuyaba was impressed with his boys performance but pointed on a key areas where they have to make corrections to het maximum points in the next game.

” We had bigger odds to win the match because of the many opportunities we got but I think we should work on our conversation rate..but we pick many positives from this game to prepare for our next game. There was a moment we switched off for them to get the penalty but am happy with the team’s performance, they have really played well and we have prepared the team well, and I believe it will give us important points this season. Loosing is part of the game though sometimes you feel you may not have lost but now the focus in on the next fixture at home Against Bright Stars and we targeting maximum points at home.” Bastu stated .

For starters, it’s believed that Vipers SC Midfielder Lawaal who passed on days ago, his body is expected to be flown back to Nigeria on Sunday because the club took on the significant logistical costs, arranging a chartered flight from Lagos to Sokoto, a journey of an additional 900 kilometers. 

Vipers XI: Alfred Macumu Mudekereza (G.K), Nico Wadada Wakiro, Derrick Ndahiro, Livingstone Mulondo, Rogers Torach Ochaki, Paul Patrick Mbowa, AbdulKarim Watamabala, Moses Waiswa, Yunus Junior Sentamu, Kenneth Kimera, Allan Okello (Captain)

Substitutes

Grant Matsiko, Siraje Sentamu, Issa Bugembe, Muhammed Salem, Frank Katongole, Enock Luyima, Jack Komakech, Dennis Kiggundu, Gusto Mulongo, Marvin Youngman

Coach
Fred Muhumuza

Mbarara City XI: Abdul Kimera (G.K), Edward Namaasa, Martin Owalamu, Bernard Ndifuna, Henry Kitengenyi, Peter Onzima, Seiri Arigumaho, Nasur Sadik Almahad, Hamza Mulambuzi, Wycliffe Ahumuza, Jimmy Ndalambi

Substitutes
Aaron Icumar, Muyomba Henry, Francis Odong, Hebert Onyango, Ibrahim Kazindula, Stephen Othieno, Paul Busolo, Adinho Gibson, Yusuf Makatum, Yusuf Mafabi, Idris Kalembo

Coach
Bashir Ssemuyaba