Police FC and Vipers SC will battle for the Stanbic Uganda Cup trophy in the final due Saturday, June 3 at the Akii-Bua Memorial stadium in Lira.
It is a final with huge stakes for either team; Police want to win their maiden Uganda Cup trophy while Vipers, crowned StarTimes Uganda Premier League champions last week, will be out to complete their first-ever domestic double triumph.
Speaking at the pre-final media conference on Friday, June 2, Police FC Coach Angelo Lonyesi dismissed talk that his players are scared of Vipers.
“This system of saying so and so is in Big League and the other is in Premier League is not important. It is eleven players against eleven players; so, my boys are not scared of Vipers and they are going to play their hearts out in that final,” Lonyesi said.
Lonyesi was referring to the fact that his side Police FC feature in the second-tier FUFA Big League compared to Vipers, the champions of the topflight StarTimes Uganda Premier League.
Lonyesi further argued that the FUFA Big League was more competitive than the Premier League this season and he asserted that skeptics should expected serious challenge from Police FC in the Uganda Cup final.
“We are well prepared and seriously want to win this cup so that we represent the country on the continent next season. We have the financial capacity to do so because Police FC is funded by an institution,”Lonyesi added.
His Vipers counterpart Alex Isabirye vowed to complete the double league and cup triumph the Kitende-based champions.
“We have a duty to accomplish the mission, which is winning the double this year; so, the boys are not resting yet until the final is done in Lira,”Isabirye stated.
To reach the final, Police FC eliminated Adjumani TC on away goal rule after a 2-2 aggregate score while Vipers ejected Bright Stars 4-1 on aggregate in the two-legged semifinals.
In their last meeting during the 2021 edition of the tournament, Vipers knocked out Police at the semifinal stage and the Venoms went on to win the cup that year.
STANBIC UGANDA CUP FINAL:
Saturday, June 3@3pm:
Police v Vipers– Akii-Bua stadium, Lira