Vipers Sports Club return to the continental spotlight this weekend, carrying with them both momentum and pressure as they chase a place in the second round of the CAF Champions League.
The Venoms head into Saturdayโs showdown at St Maryโs Stadium, Kitende, nursing a fragile 1-0 cushion earned in the first leg against Namibiaโs African Stars. That slender advantage was secured in Cape Town when defender Hilary Mukundane pounced early to net the decisive strike at Athlone Stadium.
For head coach Ivan Jacky Minnaert, Saturdayโs fixture will mark his first official appearance in front of the Kitende faithful. The Belgian, who boasts a UEFA Pro-License, is counting on the energy from the terraces to tilt the tie in his sideโs favour.
โWe expect a full house at St Maryโs Kitende, and we know the fans will push us,โ Minnaert told journalists on Thursday.
โBut 1-0 is not a big advantage. We must stay focused, be offensive, and work more together.โ
Ivan Minnaert looks ahead to tomorrowโs #TotalEnergiesCAFCL encounter with African Stars FC โคต๏ธ#VenomsUpdates || #OneTeamOneDream || pic.twitter.com/daaDtptnKg
โ ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ (@VipersSC) September 26, 2025
Adding to the optimism is a rare luxury in African competition, an entirely fit squad. Minnaert revealed he will have a full complement of players to choose from when naming his Matchday list.
โWe have all the players available. There are about 30 quality players from whom we have to pick the match day squad. There are no injury concerns,โ he confirmed.
The permutations are straightforward: avoid defeat and progression is secured. A draw of any kind will be enough to seal passage to the next stage, where a daunting test against either Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas or Zambiaโs Power Dynamos awaits.
African Stars, meanwhile, have shown intent. The Namibians landed in Uganda early in the week, set up camp at Hotel Horizon in Entebbe, and immediately got down to work. They have already familiarized themselves with the Kitende turf, holding training sessions ahead of Fridayโs final tune-up.
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐!!! ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐!!! ๐๐ฟ
Belief. Focus. Passion. Big game at St Maryโs Stadium, Kitende under the lights ๐๏ธ
Letโs do this, Venooooooms โ๐ฟ #TotalEnergiesCAFCL || #VenomsUpdates || #OneTeamOneDream || pic.twitter.com/CRUs8rOMiN
โ ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ (@VipersSC) September 27, 2025
With continental dreams at stake, the contest is delicately poised. For Vipers, the path to glory hinges on discipline, depth, and the fervour of their home support as they look to turn a narrow advantage into genuine momentum on Africaโs grandest club stage.
