STANBIC UGANDA CUP
Saturday, May 20 result, 1st Leg
Vipers SC 4-0 Soltilo Bright Stars FC
Tuesday, May 30, 2nd leg
Soltilo Bright Stars vs Vipers SC
Football icon Diego Maradona (Napoli), legends David Beckham (Manchester United), Xabi Alonso and Luis Suarez (Liverpool) among several others scored a similar goal.
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Vipers SC scored nine goals in two matches in one week, five of them coming in the 5-2 league win over Express on Tuesday, and four unanswered ones against Soltilo Bright Stars in the Stanbic Uganda Cup on Saturday.
And while Yunus Sentamu and Abdul Karim Watambala scored two goals in the 4-0 win, it was brace hero Bright Anukani – whose breathtaking pitch of a goal left many in awe – that was talk of town through the weekend.
With Vipers 2-0 up inside 18 minutes of this first leg semi final at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende; a ball came flying from the Venoms clearance.
Watambala followed its flight, with Vipers skipper Milton Karisa giving way and willing him on.
The midfielder, Watambala, latched onto it and helped it forward to Anukani, who was ready to receive the baton.
With Bright Stars upfield looking to pull one goal back, Anukani had the advantage.
Still within the centre arc of Vipers half, the skilled ball player glanced up and saw the visitors goalkeeper Hassan Matovu miles off his line. The Vipers number 10 did not need a second invitation.
In a split second Anukani planted his left foot firmly adjacent to the moving ball.
Once he was sure he’d got enough balance, Anukani called on the power and technique of his right, drilling the ball over Matovu and into the back of the net from his own half. All this unfolded in a matter of seconds.
Anukani wheeled away in celebration punching the air, and Kitende fans in absolute frenzy.
Football icon Diego Maradona (Napoli), legends David Beckham (Manchester United), Xabi Alonso and Luis Suarez (Liverpool) among several others scored a similar goal.
No wonder Vipers SC are mulling over submitting the goal for the Fifa Puskas Award, an accolade given to the male or female footballer judged to have scored the most aesthetically significant, or “most beautiful” goal of the calendar year.
“Bright Anukani will frame today’s goal in silver and gold and stick it into the mantle piece of his life,” tweeted Vipers SC, adding, “FIFA, we officially submit this Worldie to be considered for the Puskas Award 2023.”
If anything, Anukani agreed with his club’s take. “A goal that we will cherish forever. Thank you all for your support,” he tweeted alongside the video of his goal.
Here is Anukani’s goal. https://twitter.com/VipersSC/status/1659983776934502401?s=20.
Once the video went up, ‘tweep’ after ‘tweep’ gushed over Anukani’s brilliance, some saying they were not surprised because the goal was more like the player, while others pushed for it to be submitted for the Puskas Award.
Vipers and Bright Stars face off again next Tuesday, May 30 when the former travel to Kavumba Recreation Ground for the return leg.