Isabirye: Vipers on the right track

by Staff Reporter

Monday Mar 20, 2023. 15:00

Vipers head coach Alex Isabirye is convinced that positive results are just around the corner after a historic 1-1 draw with Raja Casablanca in the CAF Champions League on Saturday.

The Venoms needed to beat the Green Eagles on matchday 5 to stand a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages but they ultimately came up short after claiming a point at the St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende, coupled with Simba’s 7-0 thrashing of Horoya.

However, the club achieved a first in the competition when Abubakar Lawal (45+3′) scored their maiden goal, having cancelled out Soufiane Benjdida’s 18th-minute opener for the visitors.

Isabirye, who had only been handed the reins last week, praised his players for staying on task against the Moroccan giants and believes they are headed in the right direction.

“The truth is I’m happy not because we scored against the giants but the way we played. The character was okay. I told you that I’m here to change the mindset because I believe the players are good but the way they behave on the pitch,” he told Daily Monitor.

“I’m happy we did a good job.The first XI against Raja are the players that I know their abilities best and you could notice we made only two changes from the team that started against Wakiso Giants (in the Uganda Cup).

“We had a a counterattacking strategy for today’s game that the boys executed well and I think we are on a right track and positive results are on the way.”

Isabirye’s side will close out their African campaign with a trip to Conakry, Guinea after the international break to battle it out with Horoya for third place in Group C.