Vipers SC head coach Ivan Jacky Minnaert has admitted his team is entering one of the most demanding phases of their campaign, emphasising that calculated squad rotation is no longer optional but a necessity.
His remarks came in the aftermath of Saturday’s breathless 1-1 showdown with rivals SC Villa at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
With the Venoms set to return to action on Tuesday against UPDF FC, barely 72 hours after locking horns with Villa, Minnaert revealed that the congested calendar has forced his hand.
“The games are coming thick and fast,” Minnaert stressed to the press. “We played Express on Wednesday, Villa, and now UPDF FC on Tuesday. It’s a heavy run, and we must manage it well.”
“We shall likely make changes because some players need to rest yet we need freshness. If we want to maintain our level, we must be smart with the squad.”
His concerns were underscored by the intensity of Saturday’s tie, a fixture that once again delivered the fire and edge that define Ugandan football’s fiercest rivalries. The encounter opened at blistering pace, both sides trading surges forward as the crowd rose with every attack.
Villa drew first blood through Simon Kato Ssemayange, only for Vipers’ Usama Arafat Kiza to haul the hosts level with a cool finish that kept the champions within touching distance of the league’s frontrunners.
The point lifted SC Villa into second place on 17 points, while Vipers, still armed with three games in hand, remain fourth with 13 points. For Minnaert, those unplayed fixtures could shape the title race, but only if his squad weathers the physical strain he has repeatedly warned about.
As UPDF visit Kitende on Tuesday, Vipers will be eager to rediscover the ruthless edge that they missed against the Jogoos. A win would catapult them to second place, tightening an already congested top end of the table.
