For years, Ugandan football had a variety of potent local club rivalries, all of which rode on the historical VEK (Villa, Express, KCC) oligopoly. For generations, players battled for the pride of their badge in these fixtures: KCC against Express, SC Villa against KCC, and obviously none bigger than Express versus SC Villa.
Now, all those games, while still present on the Uganda Premier League (UPL) fixture list, stand almost forgotten. The fixture that matters is the one between KCCA FC and Vipers SC.
This Friday, the two sides are going head to head in their second tussle of the StarTimes UPL this season. Unlike the past seasons, when both sides would be chasing for the title by this time, this time it’s only Vipers chasing for the title against rare competitors; Bul FC and Kitara FC. Despite the circumstances, the game is tipped to be competitive and exciting.
Vociferous fans for both sides are expected to flock to St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on Friday and create an electric atmosphere, demanding nothing from players but spirited play and bragging rights. There is no question this fixture is becoming the most prestigious and Ugandan football’s new ‘derby’ – and here’s why:
The similarity in football ambitions
For the past 11 seasons, the UPL title has mostly been exchanged between two clubs, with both sides winning it five times. However, since Mike Mutebi left after the 2018/19 season, KCCA has struggled a lot but at least the fixtures between them and Vipers have remained competitive and entertaining.
Excitement and attendance
Judging from the first-round fixture, which KCCA won 3-1 at Phillip Omondi Stadium, the tie seems to be getting bigger and better every season.
“I can no longer miss a game between my team Vipers against KCCA. It’s the most exciting in the league,” one fan stated.
Former Proline coach and ex-KCCA player Mujib Kasule also told Matooke Republic the rise of the KCCA-Vipers derby had something to do with slumps at both Villa and Express.
“We all know the problems SC Villa and Express have been facing. Their administration lost vision.
“And about the fans, these clubs have been relying on fans they recruited in the 70s, and now at this time most of them have died, aged, or even concentrated on other activities,” Mujib said, adding that the clubs must go back to the drawing board and rebuild their fan bases.
Decline of KCCA’s old rivals
With SC Villa’s dominance in local football having ended in 2004 when they won the league and Express having last won it in 2012 before winning it recently 2020/21, it was inevitable that the death of what was once the country’s biggest derby between these two giants would soon follow. Their dramatic decline created a vacuum which the Vipers and KCCA fixture has come to fill.
According to veteran journalist David Lumansi, it is not that the traditional clubs have declined but rather a change in mindset.
“Rivalries [tend to] come naturally without a professional touch, just like these clubs got fans naturally with no professional touch. Our football has just joined the professional bandwagon at a time when the current crops of the ‘would be’ fans are grandchildren of those fans who were around when these clubs were strong. Meaning it is not just a change in generations but also change in the mindset of football fans,” he reasoned.
In other words, KCCA and Vipers switched to digital while Villa and Express are stuck in analogue.
Is it a breed of talent?
Both sides regularly contribute three or more players to Cranes squads summoned for major engagements. This, according to KCCA’s publicist Moses Magero, is one of the reasons this fixture always sees the highest caliber of football on display, drawing fans back. Plus, it sets the competitive tone.