David GOMBE
New Uganda Premier league champions Vipers SC became the first team to progress to the 51st edition of the Stanbic Uganda Cup Final.
The Venoms secured a place in this year’s final after overcoming holders Kitara FC 1-0 in the return leg fixture of their semifinal at Butema Royal Park on Saturday to keep their double dreams alive.
Vipers prevailed 2-0 on aggregate having also won the first leg contest at Kitende.
This is their four Stanbic Uganda Cup final in five years. They have previously won the competition in 2016, 2021 and 2023.
Vipers await the aggregate winner between joint competition winners KCCA FC and Kataka FC who face off in the Semifinal return fixture in Mbale on Sunday. The Kasasiro boys hold a 3-0 first leg advantage.
This year’s final will be held on Saturday, 31st May under the floodlights of FUFA Kadiba.
The four clubs to have won a double are SC Villa (1986, 1988, 1989, 1998, 2000 and 2002), Express FC (1995), KCCA FC (2017) and Vipers in 2022/23 season.
Vipers co-coaches John Ayala Luyinda and Fred Muhumuza have the onus to join Geoff Hudson (SC Villa), Polly Ouma (SC Villa), Mike Mutebi(KCCA FC), Jimmy Muguwa(Express FC and Milutin Sredojevic alias Micho (SC Villa) and Alex Isabirye Musongola (Vipers SC) who are the coaches to have won a Cup double.
