Platinum Stars suffer a bite from Vipers, but it may not be lethal

PLATINUM Stars went down 1-0 to Uganda League runners-up Vipers FC in a CAF Confederation Cup first round, first leg match played at the St Mary’s Stadium in Kampala, Uganda yesterday.

A 46th-minute strike by 22-year-old Ugandan international Milton Karisa was the difference between the two sides, with the right wing midfielder having become a major asset to the team following his transfer from fellow Ugandan club BUL FC in January this year.

While on the wrong side of the scoreline, Stars, who finished third in the Absa Premiership behind Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits last season in order to qualify for the African competition, have been in good form of late.

They will fancy their chances of rectifying matters when they take on the Ugandans in the return leg of the competition at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, in Phokeng, near Rustenburg this coming Saturday.

Stars coach Cavin Johnson made several changes to the starting line-up which beat Golden Arrows 2-0 in Absa Premiership league action in midweek, with Michael Mabule and Isaac Nhlapo beefing up the defence, while Ndumiso Mabena started up front.

Johnson brought on striker Benson Shilongo in the second half as the South African side pushed to find the equaliser, and the Namibian nearly delivered for his team as he put in a powerful header which went agonisingly just over the Vipers crossbar in the closing stages of the match.

Vipers went into the match on the back of an eight-match unbeaten streak, and find themselves in fifth spot in the Ugandan League on 32 points from 19 matches, but a full nine points off the pace being set by domestic league champions Kampala Capital City Authority FC.

The hosts played in the CAF Champions League last season, after having lifted the Ugandan League title in 2014/2015, but went out 2-1 on aggregate to Nigerian side Enyimba in the preliminary round of the continent’s premier competition.

Stars booked their spot in the first round of the CAF Confederation Cup by beating Mozambique’s Desportivo do Songo 2-0 on aggregate in the preliminary round, while Vipers advanced on the away goals rule after eliminating Volcan of the Comoros over two legs, which ended 1-1 on aggregate.

Before hosting Vipers, Stars will be involved in Nedbank Cup last 32 round action against National First Division side Amazulu in Rustenburg on Wednesday evening.– African News Agency (ANA)