Striker Farouk Miya said he was delighted to mark his return to Vipers with a brace as the Ugandan champions defeated Djibouti’s Garde Républicaine FC 3-0 in their opening match of the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup on Friday. The Uganda international recently signed a two-year contract to rejoin the Venoms after spending a decade playing professional football in Europe and other foreign leagues. His return could not have gone better, as he delivered a man-of-the-match performance to inspire Vipers to a comfortable victory in Kigali. “I am very happy to score two goals on my competitive return to Vipers. It is a special moment for me because this club means a lot to me,” Miya told journalists during a post-match interview. The 28-year-old described the occasion as a dream start to his second spell at the club. “Coming back to Vipers and scoring two goals in my first competitive match is something I dreamed about. I thank God for this moment and for giving me the opportunity to help the team.” Miya was quick to credit his teammates for the impressive result. “The most important thing is that the team won. Everyone worked hard and followed the coach’s plan. I am grateful to my teammates because football is a team sport and they helped me perform well,” he said. Despite his impressive start, the former Cranes captain urged his teammates to remain focused and continue working hard. “This is only the beginning. We have started well, but we must stay focused and continue improving. We want to make our supporters proud and represent Vipers and Uganda well.” Miya’s explosive return has already raised expectations as Vipers chase CECAFA Kagame Cup glory in Kigali. The Ugandan champions return to action on Monday when they face Gor Mahia at Kigali Pele Stadium.
