SC Villa travel to St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, this Saturday to take on Vipers SC in a blockbuster Uganda Premier League encounter. While the Venoms have dominated recent seasons with four league titles in the last six campaigns, the spotlight now shines on a resurgent SC Villa side riding an incredible wave of momentum.
Under the stewardship of Serbian tactician Željko Kovačević, the Jogoos have undergone a remarkable transformation. Their disciplined, possession-based, high-intensity style of play has not only delivered results but also restored belief. Villa remain unbeaten in the early stages of the season, sitting proudly at the summit of the table and sending a strong message about their ambitions for a long-awaited 18th league crown.
Saturday’s clash is far more than a battle for three points. It is a defining test of Villa’s title credentials against a club widely regarded as the modern standard-bearer of Ugandan football. Recent narrow but crucial victories — a 1-0 win over UPDF and a hard-fought 2-1 triumph against NEC FC — have further strengthened the team’s confidence, built on both collective resilience and moments of individual brilliance.
At the heart of Villa’s revival is the influential return of midfielder Najib Yiga. The elegant playmaker has quickly rediscovered both form and fitness since rejoining the Jogoos, adding creativity, leadership, and goals to the side. Fully aware of the magnitude of the Kitende test, Yiga remains confident in Villa’s mission.
“When you play for SC Villa, every match is a fight for the badge, but Vipers at Kitende is always special,” Yiga said ahead of the clash.
“We respect them, but we do not fear them. We are not going there to participate — we are going there to prove that the journey to our 18th title has truly begun. The team spirit is high, and we are ready to give everything for our fans.”
Head-to-Head and Current Form
SC Villa enter the encounter on a thrilling run of five consecutive league victories, a streak that Vipers will be eager to halt. Recent history between the two sides underlines just how evenly matched this rivalry remains: in their last six league meetings, both teams have recorded two wins each, alongside two draws.
With momentum firmly on their side, the Jogoos arrive in Kitende focused on nothing less than maximum points — a result that would further solidify their grip at the top of the table and reinforce their growing title ambition.
