John ‘Ayala’ Luyinda will officially begin his tenure as Vipers SC head coach on Wednesday with a tricky away fixture against struggling but highly desperate Mbarara City at the Rwamwanja Stadium.

The former Wakiso Giants tactician was swiftly tasked to replace Frenchman Denis Lavagne, who was sacked following a frustrating home draw against Police FC last Friday.

David vs. Goliath?

On paper, this fixture historically tilts heavily in favor of the Venoms. Vipers SC have registered five successive wins over the Ankole Lions and have remained undefeated in this fixture since Mbarara City’s famous 3-2 victory at Kitende back in 2021.

However, football is rarely played on paper. Mbarara City, currently under the guidance of interim coach Zaid Byekwaso, find themselves in a precarious situation. Sitting deep in the relegation zone with a mere five points, the hosts are fighting for top-flight survival and are desperate for a turnaround.

Despite a recent 2-0 defeat to SC Villa, Byekwaso’s men showed flashes of resilience. The hosts will look to key attacking outlets Muhammad Kanyike, Ivan Bogere, Clinton Kamugisha, and Rogers Mugisha to do what only two teams have done this season—penetrate a rock-solid Vipers backline that has conceded only two goals so far.

Adding extra spice to the encounter is Mbarara’s goalkeeper Bashir Ssekagya. The former Vipers shot-stopper will be highly motivated to thwart his former employers’ frontline, which features Gusto Mulongo, Usama Arafat, Odili Chukwuma, and the experienced Farouk Miya.

Tactical Tweaks?

In his first team selection, coach Ayala is expected to make subtle changes to steady the ship. Reliable defender Hilary Mukundane is tipped for a recall to the starting eleven, while club captain Milton Karisa—who was surprisingly left on the bench last week—is highly likely to feature prominently.

Vipers SC currently sit sixth on the log with 11 points, holding a crucial game in hand over current league leaders BUL FC. A win on Wednesday is vital if they are to keep pace with the early title frontrunners.

Elsewhere, KCCA host Lugazi at Lugogo while Maroons visit Entebbe UPPC at Hamz stadium, Nakivubo.

Wednesday, October 28, 2026 – 4:00 PM Fixtures:

• Mbarara City vs. Vipers SC – Rwamwanja Stadium, Kamwenge
• KCCA FC vs. Lugazi FC – MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo
• Entebbe UPPC vs. Maroons FC – Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo