By Denis West

Vipers President Dr Lawrence Mulindwa and his technical team must be lamenting why they let some players they deemed surplus to requirements leave St Mary’s Stadium-Kitende.

Just recently, the same players they ‘breastfed’; Pius Wangi, Ashraf Mandela, David Owori, Joseph Ssemujju and Bashir Mutanda returned to haunt them in the memorable SC Villa 3-1 demolition of Vipers at Kitende that hampered their title retention bid.

Villa boss Douglas Bamweyana has banked on the aforementioned players to beat Paidha Black Angels and draw away with Bul to enhanced their chances of finishing in the respectable places in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League.

Vipers’ technical team claimed Wangi’s development as a striker had ‘stagnated’, Mutanda, now leading the top-scorers’ chats with 11 goals, was snail paced whereas Ssemujju, Mandela and Awori were blamed for ‘playing school football’.

There is no doubt that the Jogoos’ future lies in the players Vipers jettisoned. Even Wankulukuku has benefitted from Vipers’ questionable shakeups, with stylish playmaker Frank ‘Zaga’ Tumwesigye finding his footing under new Express coach George Ssimwogerere.

The youthful Zaga got limited time during axed Mexican Javier Martinez’s six-month reign at Kitende and was never considered at all when the coaching duo of Edward Golola and Michael Nam Ouma took over.

He has been vibrant as Express ejected Police from Uganda Cup and remains that reliable link between the midfield and striking department.

Police workaholic midfielder Ashraf ‘Fadiga’ Mugume is the other former Vipers player finding life easier in the league. An ever present member in Abdallah Mubiru’s resolute side, Mugume is gradually turning into that defensive midfield gem he promised to be when he captained St Mary’s Kitende at Copa CocaCola schools tourneys.

Another Vipers’ reject Hassan ‘Gaata’ Kalega has formed an enviable midfield partnership with Mugume at Police supported by the fact that their coach Mubiru is an admirer of budding talent – and will risk his job by giving them chances.

That is nonexistent at Vipers at the moment as Mulindwa seeks to get value for money for every penny he invests. Sam Ssimbwa’s URA are also laughing their heads off after acquiring gangly defender Benjamin Nyakojo for ‘free’ after Vipers threw him out to relegated side Masavu a season ago.

Nyakojo has formed a near impregnable defensive partnership Paul Mbowa that has seen the tax collectors concede less than 10 goals this season.

The list goes on to Dickens Okwir, the speedy striker Vipers loaned out to Paidha Black angels in January, and has hit the ground running. Paidha now have belief that with him in the protagonist role, and the team allowed to host their matches in Zombo, the relegation fears may be erased soon.