By Jum Ali
STANBIC UGANDA CUP FINAL:
Saturday, June 3, 2023 @3pm:
Police FC Vs Vipers SC @ Akii-Bua stadium, Lira City
The stage is set for a battle of firsts at stake in Saturday (June 3)’s Stanbic Uganda Cup final where Vipers SC and Police FC will be contesting for the top honours.
Vipers, who were crowned StarTimes Uganda Premier League champions last week, will be eyeing the Uganda Cup trophy to complete their first-ever domestic double triumph.
On the other hand, Police, who represent the FUFA Big League in this final, will be hunting for their maiden Uganda Cup trophy in the club’s history.
In their last meeting during the 2021 edition of the tournament, Vipers knocked out Police at the semifinal stage and the Venoms went on to win the cup that year.
After retaining the league title on May 27, Vipers’ coach Alex Isabirye vowed to bring the double to the Kitende-based champions.
“We have a duty to accomplish the mission, which is winning the double this year so the boys are not resting yet until the final is done in Lira,” Isabirye stated.
Isabirye maintained the same stance in his pre-final comments during the joint coaches media conference held on Friday, June 2 in Lira.
Meanwhile, Police coach Angelo Lonyesi dismissed talk that his players are scared of Vipers.
“This system of saying so and so is in Big League and the other is in Premier League is not important. It is eleven players against eleven players; so, my boys are not scared of Vipers and they are going to play their hearts out in that final,” Lonyesi said on Wednesday, May 31.
Lonyesi was reacting to the fact that his side Police FC feature in the second-tier FUFA Big League compared to Vipers, the champions of the topflight StarTimes Uganda Premier League.
Lonyesi further argued that the FUFA Big League was more competitive than the Premier League this season and he asserted that skeptics should expected serious challenge from Police FC in the Uganda Cup final.
“We are well prepared and seriously want to win this cup so that we represent the country on the continent next season. We have the financial capacity to do so because Police FC is funded by an institution,”Lonyesi added.
To reach the final, Police FC eliminated Adjumani TC on away goal rule after a 2-2 aggregate score while Vipers ejected Bright Stars 4-1 on aggregate in the two-legged semifinals.
