By Denis West
At some point in the Uganda Premier League first round, Vipers Portuguese head coach Miguel Duarte Da Costa revealed he had his bags packed ready for the sacking letter from club owner Lawrence Mulindwa.
How times have changed so fast! Costa, recruited in February last year, is now settled and vowing to win the league title in his first full season at the Kitende based club.
Vipers had almost given up on the third title chase when Mulindwa pressed the magic button that has swiftly propelled back into the title picture.
Out of the blue, Mulindwa shopped for veteran talent scout Eddie Butindo, a lecturer at Kyambogo University, in early December as the Technical Development Manager.
He was tasked to head the technical staff, supervise all the teams including the junior sides since he is unrivaled in handling budding talent.
His first task was bridging the rift on the technical bench that had Costa and some of his assistants Richard Wasswa and Stephen Kigundu not see eye to eye.
For starters, Butindo has been around long enough in Ugandan football to have expertise in solving such troubles and knew all Vipers players and coaching staff by name.
He had coached and later worked closely with Costa’s deputy Edward Golola and the two joined hands to immediately rectify the ‘wrongs’ at the then struggling club.
Mulindwa gave him absolute powers as he thought to redeem his hefty investment into the club and save the dwindling image before the club’s three sponsors – Hima cement, Roofings and DFCU Bank.
“We are proud to announce Mr. Eddie Butindo as the club technical development manager on a two year deal.”
“His experience is unquestionable and therefore as Vipers we believe his appointment will yield a lot of fruits,” said Mulindwa at his unveiling at the swanky St Mary’s Stadium on December 8.
When the dust had settled in the dressing room, Butindo’s next task was addressing the derailing deficiencies at the club – indiscipline and dearth in goals.
He raided Express to pluck out his ‘son’ Dan Sserunkuma who had plundered six goals in as many goals and was taking the league by storm.
Having been groomed by the former SC Villa, Miracle and State House coach at Kampala Kids League (KKL), Sserunkuma didn’t hesitate to make the switch, attending training even before the deal was sealed.
With four well punctuated goals, Sserunkuma has solely dragged Vipers to second with top scorer and best player gongs now in closer sight.
Butindo, with Costa, laid down a strict disciplinary code that has seen hot headed players like Mike Sserumaga, Hassan Kalega and Tony Odur frozen out of the club’s plans.
Costa is now operating in a serene atmosphere at Kitende with his wife and daughter frequently flown in to give him company as he executes his mission of making Vipers a great force in African football.
Vipers have tremendously improved their away under performing streak, winning twice in three outings and have greatly benefited from the return from injury of key players like defensive pillar Halid Lwaliwa.
Costa and Golola seem to have finally found their starting eleven players; something they failed to achieve in the first round.
Bar injuries, like the one first choice custodian Ismail Watenga is nursing that gave James Alitho a rare look-in, Vipers’ first XI these days reads; Watenga, Yayo Lutimba, Nicholas Wadada, Geoffrey Wasswa, Bashir Asiku, Taddewo Lwanga, Tom Masiko, Moses Waisswa, Erisa Sekisambu, Milton Karisa and Sserunkuma.
It would be unfair if I signed out without giving a pat on the back to Lwanga, Karisa and Wasswa for their commendable displays during Vipers’ long awaited revival.
Costa, now enjoying a renewed relationship with the media that he used to disregard, is talking of a title heading to Kitende though he is not particular whether it is the league or Uganda Cup title.
“I have gone eight matches (league and cup) without a loss (last lost to URA at home on November 28) and when I look around I can see we are the only club doing that. This shows me we are on right path to something big,” the eccentric tactician said on Wednesday at Namboole after he revenged the earlier loss to URA.
For now, Costa and Vipers faithful can afford to dream, only that they have a determined Villa in front them and none surrendering reining double winners KCCA over their shoulders.
Vipers league performance in second round
10/02/18 Soana 0 – 1 Vipers
13/02/18 Vipers 2 – 0 Onduparaka
20/02/18 Vipers 2 – 0 Mbarara City
02/03/18 Maroons 1 – 1 Vipers
14/03/18 URA 0 – 1 Vipers
