Power Dynamos’ CAF Champions League second preliminary round opponents, Vipers Sports Club of Uganda, believe the start of their domestic league campaign will provide crucial preparation for their tie against the Zambian champions.

The Ugandan title holders advanced after edging Namibian outfit African Stars 2-0 on aggregate, winning both legs 1-0. Power Dynamos, on the other hand, required penalties to overcome Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas, drawing 1-1 over two legs before winning 5-4 in the shootout.

The first leg will take place at St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende, before the return match in Ndola the following weekend.

Speaking after Vipers’ qualification, head coach Ivan Minnaert admitted his side had endured difficult moments but praised their resilience.

“We had to make some adjustments, and then we took back control of the game. That was important because we suffered twice, but once we reorganized, we started creating chances. They were not very clear chances, but in the second half I felt we could have scored two or three times,” Minnaert said.

He stressed that his squad is still settling into rhythm after the off-season.

“It has not been easy to get all the players together, but now we are back. With the league starting, we can prepare better. We also have depth in the squad, which allows us to rotate a few players. After this, there will be a FIFA break where some players will travel, so we need to use that time wisely to prepare for the next game.”

Vipers will now turn their attention to fine-tuning their preparations before meeting the Zambian champions.

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