{"id":44822,"date":"2023-02-12T09:20:36","date_gmt":"2023-02-12T09:20:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/uganda\/all-news\/a-debut-to-forget-for-vipers"},"modified":"2023-02-12T09:40:14","modified_gmt":"2023-02-12T09:40:14","slug":"a-debut-to-forget-for-vipers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/uganda\/all-news\/a-debut-to-forget-for-vipers","title":{"rendered":"A debut to forget for Vipers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Uganda. <\/strong><\/span>CASABLANCA. <\/b>Goalkeeper Alfred Mudekereza started it by committing a howler. He then handed Raja Casablanca a gift they didn\u2019t need.<\/p>\n

It was the nightmare start for Ugandan league champions Vipers on their Caf Champions League group stage de\u0301but.<\/p>\n

In the end, the 5-0 drubbing under the Friday night lights at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca was embarrassing.<\/p>\n

However, it was entirely unexpected, even in an empty stadium as the three-time African champions are serving a stadium ban following violence here last year.<\/p>\n

The welcome to this level is often rude. This was a throwback to the 90s. Back then, Uganda sides only came to North Africa to receive thrashings.<\/p>\n

At that time, the Venoms were a lower division side called Bunnamwaya. Days like this looked distant. They are a reality now.<\/p>\n

A dance with African football royalty requires more than just a physical presence. It needs mental fortitude.<\/p>\n

In a quiet stadium, this was a lonely place for Mudekereza. There were many other ways to start the game.<\/p>\n

The way he started this one buried any hopes Vipers had before they could wipe any sweat.<\/p>\n

His heroics in their triumph against five-time African champions TP Mazembe in the previous round could fade in the memory of some.<\/p>\n

Acquired last July, Mudekereza totally lost his bearings as forward Hamza Khabba headed a seemingly aimless long ball into an empty net in the fifth minute from outside the penalty area.<\/p>\n

In the 11th minute, the Congolese custodian parried a tame shot into the path of defender Jamal Harkass to add a second.<\/p>\n

The defenders\u2019 turn to go missing came as midfielder Mohamed Zrida, the orchestra-in-chief, added a third off Yousri Bouzok\u2019s cut back.<\/p>\n

The game was done and this was only 38 minutes. Vipers\u2019 new coach Beto Bianchi, only in his second competitive game, made three changes at the break.<\/p>\n

The ineffective trio of Abdu Lumala, Ashraf Mandela and Karim Watambla was replaced by Yunus Sentamu, Omajondo Osomba and Desire Tety respectively.<\/p>\n

Clearly, the Raja coach Mondher Kebaier opted for preservation.<\/p>\n

Now playing in first gear, Khabba played a crisp through pass for Bouzok to lob over an on-rushing Mudekereza just before the hour mark.<\/p>\n

Amid a catalogue of changes, Togolese midfielder Roger Aholou completed the roasting with a glossy fifth on 71 minutes.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, Raja\u2019s final training session at the club’s academy was relaxed and cheerful. The game mirrored it.<\/p>\n

With Vipers registering one attempt on target, the scoreline could have been worse.<\/p>\n

Defender Livingstone Mulondo, an 80th minute substitute for Bright Anukani, only had enough time to double the yellow card count to two.<\/p>\n

In the end, Vipers were glad to leave Casablanca having avoided the 7-0 annihilation SC Villa suffered at the hands of FUS Rabat, another Moroccan side, in the 2016 Caf Confederation Cup.<\/p>\n

The chance to atone for the humiliation is next Saturday when Guinea\u2019s Horoya visit the St Mary\u2019s Stadium, Kitende for the second game in group C.<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Uganda<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Uganda. CASABLANCA. Goalkeeper Alfred Mudekereza started it by committing a howler. He then handed Raja Casablanca a gift they didn\u2019t need. It was the nightmare start for Ugandan league champions Vipers on their Caf Champions League group stage de\u0301but. In the end, the 5-0 drubbing under the Friday night lights at the Mohammed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":44821,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,17],"tags":[233,240,234],"class_list":["post-44822","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-sport","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-uganda","tag-uganda"],"yoast_head":"\nA debut to forget for Vipers - Uganda<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CASABLANCA. Goalkeeper Alfred Mudekereza started it by committing a howler. 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