Vipers SC head coach Ivan Minnaert has made his intentions crystal clear ahead of his side’s Stanbic Uganda Cup quarter-final showdown against NEC FC, insisting only victory will suffice.
The two sides renew their rivalry on Friday afternoon at the MTN Omondi Stadium, with Minnaert’s Venoms determined to maintain their strong run across all competitions.
“Every game is very important for us,” Minnaert stressed ahead of the tie. “We want to continue our unbeaten run not only in the league but the cup as well. We have many objectives, and one of them is reaching the final.”
The Belgian tactician struck an uncompromising tone, underlining the knockout nature of the fixture. “Tomorrow is win or win and nothing else. What matters is getting into the semi-final.”
Vipers head into the clash on the back of a dominant 4-0 victory over Iganga United in the previous round, while NEC booked their place in the last eight with a 2-0 win against Lugazi.
Interestingly, the two teams have already met twice in the league this season, with both encounters ending in 1-1 draws, setting the stage for what promises to be a tightly contested battle.
Minnaert will once again look to his trusted core, including Milton Karisa, Yunus Sentamu, Usama Arafat, and Karim Watambala, to deliver in a high-stakes encounter where the margin for error is nonexistent.
With a semi-final spot on the line, the message from the Vipers camp is simple and emphatic, there is no room for anything but victory.
