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Raja makes the trip to the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende having already confirmed their progress to the quarter finals, while Vipers are only mathematically still in the competition after collecting one point from four games.
Alex Isabirye has urged his side to show their competitive edge in their remaining CAF Champions League games, starting with their home game against Raja Casablanca on Saturday.
The Uganda Premier League champions’ future in Africa’s premier club competition hangs by a thread even with two games still to be played.
Raja makes the trip to the St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende having already confirmed their progress to the quarter finals, while Vipers are only mathematically still in the competition after collecting one point from four games.
But Isabirye insists that the Venoms must use the situation they are in as inspiration to show how good they can as a group especially against a top team like Raja.
“I am a competitor, I do not participate, and if you're a competitor you have to be at your absolute best no matter the situation and the opponent you're facing,” Isabirye declared ahead of the game.
“Every game is different. We are in a tough situation, but we must keep on fighting every game, and I tell you tomorrow will be no different.”
“We could be down, but before we are out we should try and win a game, and playing at home, knowing the result we picked up from the first game, then we have every reason to go for victory,” he continued.
“In the few days I have been here, I have tried to work on improving their confidence, and I know that they are a good group.”
Vipers - then under Brazilian Beto Bianchi - were beaten 5-0 by Raja in what was their first ever group game, and heaviest defeat in the Champions League in Casablanca last month.
The defeat started an underwhelming run of results for Vipers who have now gone eight games minus victory, while they also accumulated over 700 minutes without scoring a goal before Ashraf Mandeal scored against Wakiso Giants in the Uganda Cup on Tuesday.
“It was a bad result,” Isabirye said of the result. “But we now have a chance to show our ability as a club, and also salvage some pride for us.”
“They (players) played the first game, and they know how tough it is to play against Raja, so it is now about us to show that we can be at those levels as well, and I believe they can get a result.”
“To the fans, we need your support. Without you it's not the same, so please come and back us because we can win together. The players will bring their best and they will fight for you.”
Vipers will be without forward Milton Karisa who is still out with a muscle injury he suffered during Vipers’ 1-0 loss to Simba at Kitende.
Abdul Karim Watambala joins his captain on the sidelines with a knock he suffered during their Stanbic uganda Cup Round of 16 victory over Wakiso Giants on Tuesday.
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