Vipers SC needs to rethink transfer policy     

To say it has been an eventful start to 2023 for Vipers SC would be an understatement.

The Uganda Premier League champion, despite signing several players in the main and mini transfer windows, finds itself in a worst position than it did a few months ago when the club reached the Group Stage of the 2022/23 CAF Champions League.

In the August/September window, electric man, Abdu Lumala (returning from stints abroad), Issa Mubiru, Ashraf Mandela, Marvin Youngman, Jjuuko Murushid, and Cromwell Rwothomio arrived at Vipers SC.

There were moreover Congolese footballers, given that Alfred Mudekereza, Darcy Mbaka, Gracia Mpongo, Olivier Osomba, Rodrigue Shamamba, and Robert Serge Mwenge joined the club.

Other signings were Nigerian Abubaker Lawal before an Angolan Miguel Lutumba plus an Ivorian Desire Tetty joined the fray in January along with Martin Kizza and Karim Ndugwa.

In total, there have been over 17 new arrivals at Kitende, Vipers SC's base, an outrageous number for a team as stable as the Uganda Premier League champion.

In that period, players like Caesar Manzoki, Abdul Aziz Kayondo, Halid Lwaliwa, and Bobosi Byaruhanga were sold, which is good business for the club, but the release of Paul Willa left question marks.

It has been the case in recent times at Kitende where players seen as crucial for the club’s future leave harshly.

Geoffrey Wasswa, Derrick Ochan, Allan Kyambadde, Mike Mutyaba, and Ibrahim Sadam Juma are a few examples to mention.

What is annoying about the foreigners is that their performances have been below average with all coaches turning to the locals yet, under normal circumstances, the foreigners would be an improvement on the Ugandans.

Save for Manzoki and goalkeepers Mudekereza and Burundi import Fabien Mutombora, the rest of the foreign legion have proved to be bad business.

First, the question that needs to be asked is who is scouting these players because when most have been unveiled, finding information about their careers and profiles has been tough.

The foreigners, as is the norm on the continent’s biggest clubs, are supposed to beef up the team and help improve the performance but, on Saturday, Vipers SC's head coach Bianchi Beto could only pick two – Mudekereza in goal and Mwenge off the bench in the defeat to Simba SC.

While unveiling Beto, club supremo Lawrence Mulindwa was asked about the new signings and whether they had been recommended by the Spanish-Brazilian tactician to which he answered no.

“He didn’t sign or recommend any just like he didn’t with the team we used in the first round,” he said before stating: “It’s his job to get the best of them.”

For now, the club looks likely to bow out of the 2022/23 CAF Champions League after six games in the Group Stage but what should worry Mulindwa and the team is trailing KCCA FC by seven points in the Premier League.

It would be important for Vipers SC to retain the Premier League’s top honour and go back to continental football next season.

In conclusion, the difficulty should be a lesson to the club hierarchy to rethink their transfer policy given their financial muscle, stability, and structures at Kitende.