Allan Okello was the hero of the night at the St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende, as his brace secured a 2-1 victory for Vipers SC over Police FC, propelling the Venoms to the top of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League.
In a match marked by resilience and intensity, Okello’s late goal sealed the win, handing Police their first defeat of the season.
Okello opened the scoring in the ninth minute, capitalising on a defensive error by Police, who were caught out while attempting to play from the back.
His swift strike gave the hosts an early advantage, setting the tone for a fiercely contested encounter.
However, Police fought back, and just before halftime, James Brian Obedi stunned the crowd with a superb equaliser.
Cutting in from the right, Obedi unleashed a shot from a tight angle that soared into the net, levelling the match at 1-1.
The second half saw both teams create multiple chances. Vipers’ efforts were nearly thwarted by Police’s goalkeeper Edward Kasibante, who made crucial saves against Karim Watambala and Kenneth Kimera’s powerful strikes.
Police’s defence, led by Allan Bukenya and Brian Eragu, also displayed resilience, with Eragu notably clearing a goal-bound attempt off the line.
Vipers, however, found their breakthrough eight minutes from time. Salem Ekbad’s shot hit the post, and Okello pounced on the rebound, slotting it home to secure Vipers’ third consecutive league victory.
This win marks a successful spell for the team, who have rallied with confidence under new head coach John Ayala Luyinda following the suspension and eventual sacking of Nikola Kavazovic.
With the three points, Vipers now sit atop the standings with 13 points from six games. They await results from KCCA and NEC, who play today, to see if they will retain their position.
After the game, a jubilant Okello expressed his pride in the team’s current form saying, “I’m proud of the team and proud of the group, proud to be a part of this group. We are transforming this team into a top team.”
Okello’s recent performances have been remarkable; in just 10 days, the Uganda Cranes international has contributed been involved in four goal contributions for both club and country.
The attacking midfielder set up Denis Omedi for Uganda’s opening goal in their 2-1 victory over South Sudan in Juba on October 15, converted a penalty in Vipers’ 2-0 triumph over Wakiso on October 17 and has now added a brace against Police to his tally.
